Podcasts about buddhist

In the second half of this powerful wartime talk, Jack Kornfield guides us through the practice of lovingkindness and explores what it means to stay open-hearted in the face of exhaustion, grief, and overwhelm.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 Kornfield chats about:Lovingkindness (metta) as a practice of resilienceOvercoming despair by using our inner resourcesWorking with emotional exhaustion and compassion fatigueThe wisdom of allowing emptiness instead of fixing itThe power of presence in shaping the futureBecoming a force of peace in the world“When we live in the present moment, we can be strong and loving no matter what. We don't get lost in our fear. The practice of living in the present with mindful, loving awareness is a doorway to your freedom, to your well being.” –Jack KornfieldThe episode was originally filmed for Mantra Ukraine, you can learn more about them on InstagramAbout 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.“You don't have to rush your compassion. Just be where you are and hold even the emptiness with great kindness.” –Jack KornfieldSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In this episode, Lodro Rinzler discusses what it takes to believe you're good enough. He explains how guilt, shame, and negative emotions can become mistaken identity markers, and how meditation helps us recognize our inherent goodness. Lodro also shares personal stories about releasing shame, taking responsibility for past mistakes, and the Buddhist concept that we are fundamentally good but obscured by life's challenges. A Weekly Bite of Wisdom: Want to go deeper with the ideas we explore on The One You Feed? Every Wednesday, Eric shares a short, practical email that turns insights about mental health, relationships, purpose, habits, and personal growth into simple practices you can use right away. You'll also receive our Weekend Podcast Playlist featuring a recap of the week's episodes. It's free, takes about a minute to read, and is enjoyed by thousands of readers each week. Sign up at oneyoufeed.net/newsletter. Exciting News!!! ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠How a Little Becomes a Lot: The Art of Small Changes for a More Meaningful Life is out NOW! Order today!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Key Takeaways: Discussion of Lodo Rinzler's new book, You Are Good Enough. You Are Enough. Exploration of themes related to guilt and shame. The impact of modern distractions on mindfulness and presence. Identification with negative emotional states and their effects on identity. The role of meditation in recognizing and addressing negative mental patterns. Personal anecdotes illustrating the struggle with guilt and the journey of personal growth. The importance of expanding one's identity beyond limiting labels. Philosophical perspectives on human nature and basic goodness. Practical steps for cultivating mindfulness and compassion in daily life. The significance of holding a nuanced view of oneself and others in fostering healing and connection. For full show notes:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠click here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ If you enjoyed this conversation with Lodro Rinzler, you might also enjoy these other episodes: Meditation for Anxious People with Lodro Rinzler Lodro Rinzler (Episode from 2014) Hardcore Zen with Brad Warner By purchasing products and/or services from our sponsors, you are helping to support The One You Feed, and we greatly appreciate it. Thank you! This episode is sponsored by: ⁠⁠Brodo Broth⁠⁠: Shop the best broth on the planet with Brodo.  Head to ⁠⁠Brodo.com/TOYF⁠⁠ for 20% off your first subscription order and use code TOYF for an additional $10 off. ⁠Quince:⁠⁠ Refresh your wardrobe with Quince by going to ⁠⁠Quince.com/feed⁠⁠ for free shipping and 365-day returns. Now available in Canada, too. ⁠⁠⁠⁠Aura Frames⁠: Named #1 by Wirecutter, you can save on the gifts moms love by visiting AuraFrames.com. For a limited time, listeners can get 25 dollars off their best-selling Carver Mat frame with code FEED. Support the show by mentioning us at checkout! ⁠Rocket Money⁠ Let Rocket Money help you reach your financial goals faster. Join at ⁠rocketmoney.com/feed⁠. ⁠Taskrabbit:⁠ When life happens, your to-do list grows. Get ahead of it now and get fifteen dollars off your first task at ⁠Taskrabbit.com⁠ or on the Taskrabbit app using promo code FEED. Taskers book up fast, especially for same-day tasks, so book trusted home help today. ⁠Hello Fresh⁠ – Get 10 free meals + a FREE Zwilling Knife (a $144.99 value) on your third box. Offer valid while supplies last. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

‍Traditionally seen as a productivity flaw, time blindness is revealed here as a money problem, quietly undermining pricing, profits, and self-worth for solopreneurs with ADHD.This episode explores why common fixes like timers and time blocking miss the deeper issue, and instead, offers practical ways to design around the unique ADHD brain.Listeners can expect actionable tools—like range pricing, value-based pricing, and multipliers—to help create smarter, ADHD-friendly business practices.Key Takeaways: 1. Why time blindness is more of a money issue than a productivity problemMissed deadlines are visible, but it's the underpriced projects and unseen labor that are draining your profits.2. How the ADHD brain's sense of time impacts your pricing (and sends you into the red)3. Why accurate estimation is a myth—and what to do insteadSpoiler: The strategic move is to build pricing that works with your brainThe Three Places You're Losing MoneyThe invisible cost of time blindness shows up in three big ways in most service-based businesses—and maybe in yours too:● Quoting New Work: Saying “yes” to projects we've never done, referencing a project that only looks similar, and then confidently (but cluelessly) assigning a price. Inevitably, unknowns explode, and you end up working for free● Scoping Familiar Work: Every project you think you know by heart, but memory only shows you the highlight reel.● Hidden Labor: The worst offender. All the little admin tasks, endless revisions, back-and-forth emails, and extra meetings never get included in my quote. They don't feel like “billable” work, but they devour hours and energy in unpaid work.Six Pricing Strategies that Correct The Effects of Time Blindness:● Range Pricing: Quote within a range, not a fixed number.● Value-Based Pricing: Charge for outcomes, not hours.● Multipliers & Buffers: Take your default quote and multiply it (1.5x, 2x, even 2.5x if you're feeling brave).● Project vs. Hourly Pricing: Bill by project, not hours, so you're aren't penalized for hyperfocus sprints● Built-In Revision Rounds & Communication Caps: Set clear boundaries on extra work and comms, and make it official.Time blindness isn't going away—but by meeting your brain where it is, you can transform ADHD traits from liabilities into business assets. Design your pricing not despite your ADHD, but in partnership with it—and start keeping your hard-earned money where it belongs: in your business.Try The Multiplier Experiment on your next proposal:1. Write down the number you want to send.2. Multiply it by 1.5x (or higher—it should feel just a bit stretchy).3. Send that quote. Notice the resistance, the stories, the “what ifs.”4. Collect the data: Did the client say yes? No? What did you learn?Every proposal is a data point for better pricing decisions. Stop leaving money on the table!Research on ADHD & time blindnessYour ADHD-ish ™ host, Diann Wingert Diann Wingert is a business strategist, coach, serial entrepreneur, former psychotherapist, and passionate thought leader at the intersection of ADHD and entrepreneurship. In addition to hosting the ADHD-ish ™ podcast, Diann is the creator of The ADHD-ish ™ Method, a practicing Buddhist, dog mom, and relentlessly curious human.Diann explains neuroscience in a relatable way. Through her accessible storytelling, Diann empowers others to understand their brains, manage their energy, and show compassion to themselves as they navigate the demands of being a business owner and in their everyday lives. Resources Mentioned in This Episode: Sign up for Di AI, my ADHD business coach digital clone, for free: https://bit.ly/di-ai-accessMake sure you don't miss the next episodes in this “Reframing Your ADHD Traits as Business Strategies” series. Subscribe/Follow ADHD-ish on Apple or SpotifyWant my help to build your business with your ADHD traits in mind? Schedule a free consultation to explore 1:1 ADHD entrepreneur coaching.‍ ‍© 2026 ADHD-ish™ Podcast. Intro music by Ishan Dincer / Melody Loops / Outro music by Vladimir / Bobi Music / All rights reserved.

Do we each secretly believe we matter just a little more than everyone else? That my happiness, my ambitions, my relationships carry greater weight? From a Buddhist perspective, this deeply ingrained belief is the root of our suffering: a delusion known as ignorance, considered the true source of everything from heartbreak and disappointment to the quiet dissatisfaction that lingers even when we get exactly what we want. This is a modern retelling of the Buddha's first teaching, The Four Noble Truths, exploring the nature of suffering, its causes, and the path beyond it through a contemporary lens.Episode 15. Am I More Important Than Everyone Else in the Universe?If you'd like to practice with others and bring these ideas into your life, join our weekly meditation community with Scott.

[This episode originally aired on July 25, 2023] Effort plays a very important part on the Buddhist path; it's one of the three main components of discipline, meditation, and knowledge  •  effort is where the rubber meets the road; it's where things get tested and become real  •  Trungpa Rinpoche talked about effort in terms of combining discipline and delight  •  he used three analogies to describe three different approaches to effort  •  the first is a jack rabbit, racing along with a burst of enthusiasm and then collapsing in exhaustion  •  the second is a worm that's eating its way through a tree, just plowing along with no vision, no sense of where it's going  •  the third is an elephant walking through the jungle: steady and slow and dignified, with a sense of vision, mindful and aware of where it's going  •  the walk of an elephant is an example of right effort  •  another aspect of effort is being genuine  •  someone who is genuine doesn't say one thing and do another; their speech is true, and it manifests in how they act in the world. 

Purchase Daniels Book -  Hard Feelings: Finding the Wisdom in Our Darkest EmotionsIn this episode of Top Self, Shanenn sits down with psychotherapist and New York Times bestselling author Daniel Smith to explore a question most of us never stop to ask:What if the emotions you're trying hardest to get rid of are actually trying to help you?Whether it's jealousy, shame, envy, regret, or anxiety, many of us spend our lives chasing relief—seeking reassurance, distracting ourselves, or trying to think our way out of uncomfortable feelings. But according to Daniel, our darkest emotions aren't problems to eliminate. They're messengers carrying important information about who we are, what we fear, and what needs our attention.Together, Shanenn and Daniel talk about why self-criticism often causes more damage than the original emotion, how shame keeps us trapped in painful cycles, and why curiosity may be one of the most powerful tools for healing.If you've ever wondered why you keep having the same emotional reactions despite knowing "better," this conversation is for you.Golden Episode Nuggets:

We talk with Taoist meditation and qigong teacher Solala Tauler about returning to the source through simple practices that fit into real life. We explore how slowing down, sensing the body, and learning from nature can restore steadiness, vitality, and meaning.Returning To The Source: https://www.amazon.com/Returning-Source-Meditations-Rediscovering-Everyday/dp/1645475085/ To learn more about Solala's books, classes, tea ceremonies and his Qigong and Cha Dao tours to Taiwan go to www.abodetao.com/• Solala's origin story from Buddhism to Taoist practice and teaching • How qigong and stillness meditation work together through qi • Core Taoist principles like flexibility and wu wei as not forcing • Nature as the highest teacher and the shift from head to belly • Lower dantian as a foundation for embodied awareness • “Source” as Tao and the longing to reconnect with the great mother • Manzou and why going slowly deepens experience and reduces harm • Organ balancing through the five phases and emotional qualities of organs • Breath training and the idea of breathing with the whole body • Acupuncture as a way to unblock stuck qi and restore flow • Tea meditation and Cha Dao as a path to presence and gratitude • Pu'er tea, fermentation, aging, and why “energy” matters in ritual I encourage everyone to check out the book. Teach mindfulness without self-doubt, fear of judgment, or imposter syndrome. Learn about our Internationally Accredited Certification Program:  https://certify.mindfulnessexercises.com/Mindfulness Exercises with Sean Fargo is a practical, grounded mindfulness podcast for people who want meditation to actually help in real life.Hosted by Sean Fargo — a former Buddhist monk, mindfulness teacher, and founder of MindfulnessExercises.com — this podcast explores how mindfulness can support mental health, emotional regulation, trauma sensitivity, chronic pain, leadership, creativity, and meaningful work.Each episode offers a mix of:Practical mindfulness and meditation teachingsConversations with respected meditation teachers, clinicians, authors, and researchersReal-world insights for therapists, coaches, yoga teachers, educators, and caregiversGentle reflections for anyone navigating stress, anxiety, burnout, grief, or changeIf you're interested in:Mindfulness meditation for everyday lifeTrauma-sensitive and compassion-based practicesTeaching mindfulness in an authentic, non-performative wayDeepening your own practice while supporting others…you're in the right place.Learn more at ...

'Break Bad Habits, Cultivate Buddhist Qualities - Visākha Pūjā 2026' - A Dhamma talk given by Ajahn Anan on 31 Mar 2026, translated from Thai to English. To join Ajahn Anan and the Wat Marp Jan Community online for daily chanting and meditation, you may register at https://watmarpjan.org/en/live/ for a unique link. Daily live sessions at 7.15pm - 9pm, Indochina Time (Bangkok, GMT+7).

Have you ever noticed that even when things are going well, there can still be a part of you looking for what's missing, what's not working, or what needs to change before you can finally feel at peace?In this episode of Recover Your Soul, I share a teaching from Pema Chödrön's book How We Live Is How We Die that has stayed with me for weeks: the propensity for discontent.The phrase struck me because I could see how often many of us move through life carrying an unconscious habit of looking for what's wrong. We think that if we could just fix the relationship, heal the wound, change the circumstance, or get to the next goal, then we would finally be okay.But what if peace isn't waiting on the other side of everything changing?What if the invitation is to become aware of the lens through which we're already seeing our lives?In this conversation, I explore the Buddhist teaching of the kleshas: attachment, resistance, and delusion. These are the habitual ways we become disconnected from our peace and our true nature. As I share in the Recover Your Soul process, these patterns often show up as our unconscious beliefs, stories, fears, judgments, and attempts to control life around us.Together we'll look at how attachment keeps us grasping for things to be different, how resistance keeps us fighting reality, and how delusion can keep us trapped in old stories and misunderstandings that prevent us from seeing ourselves and our lives clearly.This isn't about pretending everything is fine or pushing away difficult feelings. It's about learning to be present with what is, while bringing more awareness, compassion, and curiosity to the patterns that create suffering.The beautiful gift of this work is that the very places where we get stuck can become doorways to wisdom, healing, and awakening.In This Episode:What Pema Chödrön means by "the propensity for discontent"How the habit of looking for what's wrong affects our happinessUnderstanding the three kleshas: attachment, resistance, and delusionThe connection between Buddhist wisdom and the Recover Your Soul processHow our patterns, beliefs, and stories shape our experience of lifeLearning to witness difficult emotions without judging ourselvesWhy awareness is the first step toward healing and transformationHow to find greater peace in the present moment, even when life isn't perfectMy hope is that this episode helps you become a little more aware of the ways you may be searching for what's missing and instead begin noticing what is already here. We are all learning together how to release old patterns, soften our judgments, and reconnect with the wholeness that has always existed within us.As always, thank you for being part of the Recover Your Soul Community. It is an honor to walk this healing and awakening journey with you.Send a one way text to Rev Rachel

Prayer Moment 1 of 5 in JunePrayer for Understanding that God is Good, Despite Suffering in the World 1. Truth in Suffering: Pray that Buddhists will understand that suffering does not mean God is absent or unkind (John 16:33).2. God's Character: Pray that they will see God as compassionate and present, not distant from pain (Psalm 34:18).3. Hope: Pray that they will find hope in Christ, who brings purpose and redemption through suffering (Romans 8:28). 

Welcome to this special episode where I am on the other side of the mic!I recently joined the Temporary Locals Podcast to share my experience travelling through the fascinating Himalayan kingdom of Bhutan. In this conversation, we dive into what makes Bhutan one of the most unique travel destinations on Earth, from its strict tourism policies and sustainable tourism model to its rich Buddhist culture and breathtaking mountain scenery.We discuss the realities of planning a trip to Bhutan, including costs, guided tours, and the famous Sustainable Development Fee. I share stories from hiking to the iconic Tiger's Nest Monastery, staying with a local family in a traditional homestay, attending Bhutanese festivals, exploring the capital Thimphu, and experiencing the country's deep spiritual culture.Along the way, we talk about Bhutanese food, local customs, mountain life, and even the surreal experience of flying home on the same flight as the King and Queen of Bhutan. If you've ever wondered what it's really like to visit one of the world's most exclusive and mysterious countries, this episode is packed with practical advice, cultural insights, and memorable travel stories.Temporary Locals' ShownotesIn this episode, Jared and Megan welcome travel vlogger James Hammond to discuss his recent trip to Bhutan. They explore Bhutan's unique culture, geography, and the requirements for visiting this lesser-known Himalayan destination. James shares his experiences hiking to the famous Tiger's Nest Monastery, staying with a local family, interviewing a Lama, nightlife of Thimphu and ending up on the same flight as a King.Please check out Megan and Jared's Temporary Locals Podcast below. I love their style, content and approach to travel.Apple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/temporary-locals-podcast/id1845249694Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/3pQ3gIDSRfd4Ep9zqZ2YoK?si=f4997bb0755b4997YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@TemporaryLocalsPodcastSupport Winging It Travel PodcastIf you enjoyed this episode:⭐ Leave a 5-star rating or review on your podcast app☕ Support the show at buymeacoffee.com/wingingit

A big part of the court are the actual court nobles, so this episode we are taking a look at some of the ones mentioned in the Chronicles for this reign. For more, check out https://sengokudaimyo.com/podcast/episode-150 Rough Transcript Welcome to Sengoku Daimyo's Chronicles of Japan.  My name is Joshua and this is episode 150: Nobles of Jitou Tennou's Court   Maro donned his light blue robes and made his way to the court.  As he arrived, the sun was just peaking over the horizon, and as it bathed the court in the golden morning light the dark shadows were dispelled, leaving in their wake a colorful scene, as various court officials headed this way and that, gathering in their offices to pick up on the work that they had left unfinished the day before. As an ohotoneri, Maro was often sent to and fro between the offices of the different departments. As such, he was able to see how they worked, and he wondered to himself which department would have the best opportunity for advancement.  His family had connections over at the Department of Prisons, and it was definitely a place he could make a name for himself, especially if he attached himself to one of the newly minted magistrates.  On the other hand, the Jingikan, the Ministry for Kami Matters, had some of the most important and sought after positions.  After all, no matter what the secular administration did, when there was no rain for the fields, it was the kami to whom the court turned.  And the members of the Jingikan who helped make those ceremonies happen were known to be well rewarded for their troubles. Perhaps he would be better off taking a more modest position, such as with the Jibu-sho, the Department of Civil Administration.  It was mostly focused on the maintenance and execution of the bureaucracy, and wasn't necessarily a place to seek the limelight, but perhaps that also offered some opportunity.  Do well in one position, and who knows what that could open up to you in the long run?  Maybe one day Maro could make it up to become a Nagon, a Counsellor, or even one of the Daijin, the great ministers at the very head of the council of state.Maro almost laughed at the thought, but he didn't put it aside entirely.  After all, as impossible as it might seem now, the world was still changing, and who knew what opportunities might be waiting just around the corner?   This episode continues our look at the reign of Uno no Sarara, aka Jitou Tennou.  I would note that we have now reached the last chapter of the Nihon Shoki, which ends with the end of Uno no Sarara's reign in 697.  In this chapter, we have not quite 11 years to cover, and we've already talked about the first three of those years, which featured succession issues and a long mourning time for Uno's husband Ohoama, aka Temmu Tennou, culminating in the sudden death of her only son, the Crown Prince and heir apparent, Prince Kusakabe, in 689.  We also went over what was happening on the continent, with powerful women like Uno no Sarara either on or behind the throne in Silla and the Tang dynasty.  To quickly recap the succession issues: When Kusakabe died, tthat left the throne in a somewhat tenuous position.  There were two other male heirs that would seem to have a claim on the throne as well.  The first was Prince Takechi, who was technically Ohoama's eldest son, but the Chroniclers claim that his late mother was not sufficiently royal for him to have a serious claim.  Then there was Prince Karu, the only known son of the late Crown Prince Kusakabe, and had been born 6 years earlier, in 683, to the Crown Prince and his wife, Princess Abe.  Princess Abe was a daughter of Naka no Oe, and a half-sister to Uno no Sarara.  She was actually a year older than Kusakabe, and would continue to look after the young Prince Karu.  So, Prince Karu was only about 7 years old when his father passed away: much too young to be taking the throne, let alone a firm hand in the politics of the time.  And given the mortality statistics of the time, there is so much that could happen to him before he reached the age of majority.  And remember, there were already some questions about legitimacy, and we already discussed the fact that about 30 nobles had gathered in support of Prince Ohotsu right after Ohoama's death.  Uno no Sarara had that whole issue quashed and Prince Ohotsu had died, but it was nonetheless a stark reminder that things could change quickly. So at this point in Uno no Sarara's reign, there is a great deal of uncertainty afoot, and there are quite a few individuals named in the Chronicles who stand to benefit from sticking their fingers into politics in one way or another.  This episode, we're going to look at some of those individuals, their roles in the court, and the effect they had on Yamato.  Some of those people named are particularly interesting in that they were involved in the conspiracy with Prince Ohotsu, and would continue to be highly influential in the government.  For example, Iki no Hakatoko, Nakatomi no Omimaro, and Kose no Tayasu, and Yakuchi no Wotokashi are all name-dropped, which we'll get into more later.  It feels significant, however, that there were some 30 nobles all told, and beyond these four and the apparent ringleaders, we don't learn anyone else's names.   The importance of prominent individuals in the court has been a constant theme in the Chronicles and in this podcast, so getting to know the court is definitely important. Moreover, during this time period as we get more and more written sources from which to work from we will see more and more information on individuals.  Some of that will come from the Nihon Shoki and the records that come after—the Shoku Nihongi.  Others, however, are from sources like the Man'yoshu, where bits of biographical data are found about the authors that they mention.  There are also family diaries and later genealogies.  Some of these sources are a bit more trusted than others, especially when they were compiled centuries later and we don't exactly know what sources they, themselves, were working on.  Still, even if it isn't 100% accurate, it does give us a picture of what was going on beyond just the royal family. I think it is also helpful to understand some of the overall court dynamics.  If you are familiar with the Heian period, especially around the time of things like the Tale of Genji, you are probably well acquainted with the Fujiwara family—I'll probably need to do an entire episode just on them at some point.  Essentially, there would come a time where almost the entire court was made up either of royals or of members of the Fujiwara clan, or uji.  In fact, even that distinction wasn't really accurate as the Fujiwara family had so intermarried with the Royal family that every sovereign—every Tennou and even most of their consorts—were directly related to members of the Fujiwara.  Not only that, but members of the Fujiwara family held the position of regent—whether the sovereign was of age or not—and effectively ruled the country, with the Tennou being largely relegated to a mouthpiece with ceremonial duties.  It would get so bad that we would see the splitting of the Fujiwara uji into smaller households, and the political fights were often between members of the different households of the same family.  There is a reason that a good portion of the Heian period is sometimes called the Fujiwara period. However, now during the late Asuka period, we see something a little different.  The marriage politics of the Soga had been violently suppressed about a half century earlier, and a lot of different names flourished in the Yamato court, as youmay have noticed any time I've rattled off a bunch of names and your eyes started crossing because of it.  But that's the reality we see: there were a lot of different families, and individuals, all jockeying for influence.  And they were in a period of disruption, where lots of change was happening.  That change meant there was also a lot of potential. And I hope you don't mind if I take a quick time-out here, but so often we read history and we forget to learn lessons from it, and one overarching lesson is:  if you are a part of an organization—a company, a club, government, school, or anything like that—one thing you are going to have to deal with is change.  It comes in many forms and happens whether or not you personally agree with it. It can be destructive and it can be frightening, because we often don't know what is on the other side of it, but it also presents opportunities.  After all, if you don't know what comes next it probably means other people don't, either.  And if you can be the one to provide direction you can have a huge influence on what comes next.  And change has been a constant theme in this period of Yamato history, in so many ways.  Take the reorganization of the government as one example: they had introduced these 8 departments, which had names and were set up in various ways, but it wasn't like you had experienced people to run them as they had been on the continent.  So you had names and the forms of things, but there were a lot of people figuring out just how to actually put this new structure into practice, and leverage them to do what they were supposed to do.  In the process, there were a lot of opportunities to innovate and figure out how to do it within the cultural milieu of the archipelago.  So all of these individuals, from these various families, all had opportunities staring them in the face.  They just had to figure out how to make the best of it. Now, don't get me wrong:  Those with the money, the connections, and the influence still had a leg up, and this was still a hierarchical society, where your family dictated, to some extent, your position in society.  The introduction of individual court rank, as opposed to just the kabane that ranked uji, was pushing against that, and had already caused a reformation that flattened a lot of the previous kabane into just eight distinctions, but those distinctions still existed.  Even had they not, simple matters of inherited wealth and the value of goods produced in a family's home territory would still have provided tremendous advantages.  But there isn't an indication of the kind of large-scale consolidation of resources that we will see in later periods, such as the Fujiwara example that we were just discussing.  Oh, sure, we aren't going to see a farmer suddenly make it big at court in some kind of rags-to-riches story, but at the upper end of society we still have a lot of apparent diversity. And so, let's get to know some of these individuals that the Chronicles tell us about.  Before we do that, though, let's recap a little bit about how the court worked. Every member of the court was effectively employed by the State.  They had an official job with duties they were supposed to oversee.  In the case of lower level functionaries, they were likely expected to actually do most of the work, while at the top of the hierarchy you had nobles who were more likely decision-makers, who would approve or disapprove of the work and direct strategic resources. Those working in the court had official uniforms—the round-necked garments of the continent.  What would be called a "caftan" farther west.  These were based on the foreign garments popular in the Tang court and elsewhere. The color and pattern of official clothing appears to be something that goes back to early in this new continental style government, and we see suggestions of color schemes from a relatively early age.  However, in 690 we see the clearest such outline of just what everyone was wearing. As a reminder, the court rank system of the day was made up of a Princely and a Commoner system.  Princely ranks originally included two ranks of the Myo class, and four of the Jou class, each rank divided into either "Great" or "Broad", for twelve Princely ranks, though honestly we only ever really see the four Jou class of ranks in use. Below that were the ranks for the common nobles—those with family names who did not have any kind of royal claim.    For them there were six classes of rank—Shou, Jiki, Gon, Mu, Tsui, and Shin, in that order.  Each class was made up of four ranks, which were further divided into upper and broad categories, creating 48 total ranks. Your rank determined your precedence at court—where you were sat, what jobs you were allowed to take on and, most importantly, the amount of money that you could expect to receive as part of a stipend.  Naka no Oe had previously consolidated the land-holdings and asserted claim over all of it.  The taxes from the households on the land went to the government to pay the stipends of the nobles in the court, who were, ostensibly, employees of that same government.  Your rank determined what you were owed, though this could also be augmented by various edicts. So there you go: rank in the court was tied to many of the things that the elites wanted, from wealth to status and access to various opportunities. The color of official clothing followed the rank system.  So Princes of the first two ranks of the Jou class were given robes of dark purple, and the third and four ranks were given robes of bright purple, which they shared with highest class of rank of the common nobles, the Shou rank class. Below that, nobles of the Jiki class would wear robes of dark red, and those of Gon would wear dark green.  The Mu rank class, the next down, was Light Green, and then Tsui was Deep Blue and Shin was Light blue. So in order you would see robes of Dark Purple, Bright Purple, Dark Red, Dark Green, Light Green, Deep Blue, and Light Blue.  The color gave you a certain indication of where the person sat in the overall hierarchy of the court, and provided you clues as to how you should address them, who would give deference, etc.  In later centuries, we are even told that deference was given in meetings, which is to say that once a person of higher rank provided input on a topic, nobody of lower rank was able to contradict them for fear of the consequences.  So it also told you who got the last word. This then was the world that the nobles of the court inhabited.  As we've seen in previous episodes it wasn't just bureaucratic work, but also banquets, archery contests, and Buddhist congregations and sutra readings.  There were rituals, dances, and diplomatic embassies—not to mention all of the ceremonies around the death or ascension of the sovereign.  In this world, one's reputation was everything.  You wanted to be seen as good at your job, but also, just like today, people were more likely to promote and support those they knew, and so it helped to have friends.  However, there were also a limited number of top spots, and so every promotion would have likewise meant plenty of disappointed nobles who didn't get the job.  But that is enough background.  Let's take a look at some of the nobles themselves, starting with the four from the Prince Ohotsu conspiracy.   The first name in the list is perhaps the least interesting.  His name is Yakuchi no Wotokashi.  Although he was the highest ranking of the four, he is also the least mentioned in the Chronicles and elsewhere, and we know very little about him.  So we'll talk about him later on, for completeness, but for now it may be best to skip him until we have a better handle on others in the court. In contrast, we know a bit more about his co-conspirators.  In fact, we've already talked about one of them at length:  Iki no Hakatoko.  We first heard about Iki no Hakatoko when talking about the Tang dynasty, and discussed him at length in Episode 123.  He was one of the members of the embassy to the Tang dynasty back in the early 660s that got delayed on account of Tang Gaozong initiating the war against Yamato's ally Baekje.  The fact that the Nihon Shoki directly pulls from Hakatoko's work, known to us, today, as the Iki no Hakatoko Sho, makes it one of the few early named written works that we know about.  Unfortunately, it is no longer extant except for what is preserved in the Chronicles, but it is still incredible that we have essentially an eyewitness account of what happened.  He would later be one of the escort envoys for one of the Tang embassies during the reign of Naka no Oe.  That he was then embroiled in the conspiracy with Prince Ohotsu would seem to be at odds with his standing, and yet after his pardon he eventually got back into the court's good graces.  In 695, about 9 years after the incident, he was assigned as an assistant envoy to Silla.  By that point he was of Mudaini rank, which was only about 35th in the overall scheme of things.  Later on we know he would work on the famous Taiho code, which was published in 701, and enacted a couple of years later.  It was here that he worked with the famous Fujiwara no Fubito—about whom we will discuss more, later—and although he would pass away in 703, this may be how his own writings came to find their way into the Chronicles, since Fubito is said to have had a large influence on them—as he had on many of the court's projects. Overall, Iki no Hakatoko may not have been the one in charge, but we see in his life an incredible career, much of it spent on multiple voyages across the ocean, whether on an embassy or as an escort.  He likely was highly proficient in the language of the Tang court—what we typically refer to, broadly, as Middle Chinese.  He also had direct experience with the Tang court and system, and so it makes sense that he was one of those helping to build an administrative state based on that system. If we were to imagine Hakatoko in the court of the day, at least in 695, he would have likely had light green colored robes, indicating that he was of the "Mu" class of ranks.  He would have worn the black gauze cap of the court and worn white hakama, or trousers, underneath.  His long, continental style, round-necked robes—likely relatively slim, with overly long, but narrow, sleeves—would have been tied closed in the front with a braided silk cord.  He likely worn black leather boots, covered in a light lacquer to protect them from the elements, with cloth insoles and perhaps a hint of brocade along the top.  He likely kept with him a ruler, and perhaps a few slips of paper or even just wood on which to take occasional notes.  A mid-level functionary of the court. We can compare and contrast Hakatoko to two other co-conspirators:  Nakatomi no Omimaro and Kose no Tayasu. We are given neither Omimaro's rank nor Tayasu's at this time.  It is interesting that they listed after Hakatoko, who is actually listed as having "Lower Shousen" rank—an older rank that was no longer in use at this point in time.  Also, both Nakatomi and Kose were Ason level families while Iki no Hakatoko is listed as being merely "Muraji".  So it seems that the Chroniclers were probably pulling from what they could find elsewhere, although where they found that Wotokashi had Jikikwoshi rank I have no idea, as we don't have any other record for him.  And it is possible that deference to Wotokashi and Hakatoko are as much a nod to their age as anything else, though probably not by much. Of four co-conspirators mentioned here—and I'm leaving out the two who were exiled or banished, as they were clearly not hanging around the court later—Nakatomi no Omimaro and Kose no Tayasu were probably from the most established families.  Indeed, we see both of their names show up multiple times in the record, giving us a better idea of who they might have been. Of the two, the name Nakatomi probably is more likely to ring a bell, as that as the surname of the famous Nakatomi no Kamatari—as well as the later Nakatomi no Kane.   Nakatomi no Kamatari was the head of court ritual when he and Naka no Oe kicked things off with the Isshi Incident and the Taika reforms, at which point he became the "Inner Prime Minister", or Naidaijin. Much of what we know of Omimaro comes from outside of the Chronicles themselves.  For instance, we are told that he was the son of Nakatomi no Kunitari, a cousin to the famous Kamatari, at least according to the 10th century Engi Shiki.  However, we have no other records of Kunitari, and so there is more than a little doubt cast as to whether or not that was actually the case.  Similarly, we are told that Omimaro married one of Kamatari's daughters, and was eventually adopted by Kamatari. Once again, the evidence for this is pretty thin, and it is unclear to me just how adoption worked at this point.  Certainly in later periods, adoption was often a way to ensure that a family had a male heir to ensure the family's continuity, and marrying someone's daughter and being adopted into the family is an age old tradition in the archipelago and Japan more generally.  At the same time, give some thought to what we know about this period: male primogeniture was not exactly the norm, although Confucian values had definitely made inroads into court.   The family headship often went to the eldest—or most prominent—family member.  This wasn't necessarily a son and often was a brother, a nephew, or even a cousin.  We have a few famous Nakatomi at this point in time, and all I can say for certain is that they were part of the same family.  Later traditions would make things a bit more clear. Whatever his parentage, our first encounter with Omimaro appears to be in the Ohotsu conspiracy, when he was arrested and then pardoned.  He shows up again in the record just three years later, along with Kose no Tayasu, as both were made judges, along with Fujiwara no Fubito—Nakatomi no Kamatari's biological son and eventual heir. In fact, there were nine judges, or magistrates, made that year, and they are listed in rank order.  The first is Prince Takeda, said to be a great-grandson of Nunakura, aka Bidatsu Tennou.  He was Joukwoshi rank, meaning he wore bright purple court robes, sitting in the lower half of the princely ranks.  He had been quite prolific ever since 681, when he was one of the Princes called to help bring together the Chronicles.  After being made a judge, he would continue in that position, it seems, and by 708 he would become the head of the Ministry of Prisons. After him we have Haji no Nemaro, in the dark red robes of the Jiki rank class.  Though someone of rank, less is known about Nemaro.  His father is said to be Haji no Mi, who was part of the forces that set out to Yamada-dera to capture—and likely kill—Soga no Kurayamadera.  Haji no Nemaro's son is Haji no Oi, who was sent to the Tang court but returned in 684, along with several repatriated soldiers.  Oi would assist with the Taihou code, but little more is said about him or his father. Other judges were Ohoyake no Maro, Fujiwara no Fubito—also of the Jiki class rank. Maro would go on to take a job as a jusenshi, responsible for minting coins, and Fubito would go on to reach the highest levels of government. Then there was Tahema no Sakurawi, Hodzumi no Yamamori, Nakatomi no Omimaro, Kose no Tayasu, and Ohomiwa no Yasumaro.  They were all Mudaishi rank at this point, wearing dark green.  Sakurai would go on to become the governor of Ise in 705, and then the governor of Musashi in 708.  Hodzumi no Yamamori we don't have as much information on, other than that he kept climbing the ranks, by 704 he had made Junior 5th rank, lower grade in the system that replaced the cap-ranks, and by 712 he made it to the senior fifth rank, lower grade. Ohomiwa no Yasumaro, on the other hand, would make it to the Senior 5th rank, lower grade by 707, and the upper grade by 708, when he was made the Dayu—the high minister in charge—of Settsu.  He would eventually make it into the Junior Fourth rank, upper grade, as the Minister of the Military Department, or Hyobu-sho. So this gives you an idea of the people with whom Nakatomi no Omimaro and Kose no Tayasu were rubbing elbows.  That they were made judges, responsible for justice, seems to say something as that would seem to be a powerful position.  At the same time, they are both lower ranked than the much younger Fujiwara no Fubito—but once again, he was the direct son of Nakatomi no Kamatari.  He also seems to have avoided any unpleasantness from the Jinshin no Ran as he was only 14 at the time, and though it does seem that the Nakatomi were generally knocked down a peg or two in court—thanks in large part  to the fact that Nakatomi no Kane had been one of the leaders of the Afumi court.  That and the whole thing with Prince Ohotsu may be why Omimaro was not exactly in the top ranks, but his appointments weren't nothing, either.  By 693, Omimaro would be granted the rank of Jikikwoshi, the lower fourth rank of the Jiki class.  In that entry he is recorded as Fujiwara no Omimaro.  I believe we discussed this a few episodes back, but the Fujiwara name was still new.  It had been granted to Nakatomi no Kamatari on his deathbed—or possibly even posthumously—by Naka no Oe, and to his family.  So technically that would seem to extend to the entire Nakatomi family.  And with Nakatomi no Kane having been one of the main figures on the losing side of the Jinshin no Ran, it was no doubt a savvy political move for Nakatomi courtiers to lean into the Fujiwara name, and they seem to have done just that.  It wouldn't be until later, in the reign just following this, that a new decree would straighten everything out, such that only the actual descendants of Fujiwara no Kamatari, such as Fujiwara no Fubito, would be allowed to use the Fujiwara name. Throughout this, I have focused mostly on Omimaro, but Kose no Tayasu was in the mix as well.  He, too, was made a judge and in 693 he would also be awarded the same Jikikwoshi rank.  In addition, in 689, he was made a "commissioner of good words", along with the Royal Prince Shiki and others.  This seems to be a singular position, and Aston suggests that it was their job to figure out the kind of auspicious language that should be used in the court.  What kind of language should be used by the sovereign and the courtiers in drawing up official edicts.  I imagine that they were figuring out the form to give to formal court documents as well as the kinds of titles and honorifics to use for the sovereign and the state more generally.  Of course, that is just an assumption based on Aston's understanding of what is, ultimately, a single line.  Still, it is clear that Tayasu was helping to make things happen. Tayasu would eventually go on to become the Minister of the Department of Ceremonies, the Shikibu-sho, and would later serve as a secretary to the Viceroy in Tsukushi—the Dazai Daini.  He would pass away in 710, one year before Omimaro. Before leaving Tayasu behind completely, I would like to point out his family name:  Kose.  The Kose family were one of the families granted the kabane of Ason, or Asaomi.  They had previously been known as the Kose no Omi, and had a long history in the court, claiming descent from the famous Takeuchi no Sukune, legendarily known as the first Oho-omi of Yamato.  Kose no Tokuda had been a supporter of Soga no Iruka, but after the Isshi Incident he supported Naka no Oe and eventually replace Abe no Uchimaro as Sadaijin—Minister of the Left.  Another Kose, Kose no Hito, would also rise in the government, becoming one of two Goshi-daibu made when Prince Ohotomo was appointed Dajodaijin.  The other was Ki no Ushi.  They were both in attendance and counted among the six who swore to protect and support Ohotomo, along with Nakatomi no Kane and others.  So they, too, found themselves on the wrong side of the Jinshin no Ran. In this case, however, it is unclear how much Tayasu was impacted by that.  He may have been the son of Kose no Shitano, brother to Kose no Hito, but the Kose were prolific in the court, with many people of the name.  The family would continue going through the Heian period.  Their fortunes ebbed and flowed, as did so many families, but they would eventually find themselves as Hatamoto to the Tokugawa shogun, so they never actually disappeared. Finally, let's talk about Yakuchi no Wotokashi.  As I mentioned earlier, he is actually one of the first names mentioned in the list of co-conspirators with Prince Ohotsu, suggesting that he outranked others in the group.  Indeed, he is noted as being of Jikikwoshi rank—fourth lower Jiki rank.  The bottom of the Jiki class, but that was still the third class from the top.  However, despite this, very little is actually said about him.  In fact, this is the only instance I could find of the name Yakuchi in the Nihon Shoki, at least in that spelling—there is also a Yakuchi no Uneme, but it is spelled differently and is probably not related.  It is also the only evidence of the name Wotokashi.  That means we don't even see him in the list of names being granted Ason in the first place. It is quite possible that Yakuchi was a name he took later and that he was from another family.  Indeed, there are a couple of traditions around Wotokashi that suggest he was the founder of the Yakuchi family in Shinano.  Indeed, there is a Yakuchi family that comes out of Shinano, near Adzumino.  And Shinano was one of the places that Ohoama had sent people to examine as another site for an alternative capital, and Prince Mino and others had gone to check it out.  So maybe Wotokashi headed out there—or his descendants, anyway—and decided to try and make a go of it.  Proponents of this theory also connect Wotokashi to a line descended from the Soga family, which would certainly explain his prominence.  There are others, however, who claim that the Yakuchi family out of Shinano is actually descended from the Otomo, suggesting that the similarities in the name are just coincidental, which is also possible.  Ultimately, our sources fail us here, and so we just have speculation.  It is possible that even with the pardon, Wotokashi was just never able to regain the trust of the sovereign or his position in court, and so whether he took a hike for the hinterlands or just faded from the picture it is hard to say. With that, let's take a look at just two more courtiers, and what kinds of lives and careers they had at court, at least from what we can see.  These two we've also mentioned in passing:  Fuse no Miushi—whom Aston transliterates as Miaruji—and Ohotomo no Miyuki. Fuse no Miushi and Ohotomo no Miyuki were both mentioned as performing eulogies for Ohoama, though there is more to them than just that.  We'll start with Fuse no Miushi, who is said to have been the son of none other than the Taika era Sadaijin, or Minister of the Left, Abe no Uchimaro.  You may recall that Abe no Uchimaro was the Sadaijin under Karu no Ohokimi, aka Koutoku Tennou, along with the Udaijin, Soga no Kurayamadera.  They were both supporters of Naka no Oe, though much of the Chronicles focus appeared to be more on Kurayamadera than on Uchimaro. We don't know when Miushi was born, nor when he received the name "Fuse", the name by which he is known when we first meet him in the Chronicles.  That family name only shows up two other times in the Chronicles.  Based on other sources, it seems that the Abe family was divided at some point into the Fuse and the Hikida, likely because it became too large and they needed to distinguish the different parts of the family.  It is said that Fuse no Miushi served as a retainer to Ohoama during the Jinshin no Ran.  That, along with his family connections, helped secure him a good place in the government.  By 686, we see him pronouncing the eulogy for Ohoama's funeral on behalf of the Dajokan, the Counil of State.  He was already Jikidaishi, one rank above the standard Jikikwoshi, but still clothed in the same dark red robes.  In 687, he is again pronouncing the eulogy, but this time we are told that his a Nagon, or councilor, a rather prestigious posting that would later get broken up into three different levels:  Dainagon, Chunagon, and Shonagon.  For my Heian fans out there, that last is the same Shonagon as in the name of the famous poet, author, diary-keeper, and all around queen of snark, Sei Shonagon.  By 688, pronouncing the Eulogy seems to have become an annual event for Miushi, only this time he teamed up with Ohotomo no Miyuki.  The two of them seem to have had similar careers, and would, for a time, come up together through the ranks. Ohotomo no Miyuki is said to have been born in 646, though that isn't recorded in the Nihon Shoki and comes from other sources.  The Ohotomo family goes back quite a ways, and we are told that his father was Ohotomo no Nagatoko, who served as Minister of the Right under Naka no Oe.  However, in 672, the Ohotomo, including Miyuki, sided with Ohoama in the Jinshin no ran.  In 675 he was made Tayu while Prince Kurikuma was made Director of Military Affairs.  He then drops out of the narrative until 688, when he is pronouncing the eulogy with Fuse no Miushi. Miushi would go on, two years later, to present the formal congratulations from the court to the Queen upon her ascencion to the throne, and then the following year, 691, both Miushi and Miyuki were granted the rank of Jikidaiichi, the highest rank in the Jiki class, along with 80 households to support them and their families.  This brought both of their stipends up to roughly 300 households each.  Then, in 694, they were both raised in rank again, this time to Shoukwoushi.  Only one rank up, yet they went from the top of the Jiki class to the bottom of the Shou class.  They would have gotten new robes of Bright Purple to indicate their new status, and they each had their stipends increased by the taxes of 200 households each.  At the same time, they were also acknowledged as senior members of their houses.  That means that Miushi was considered the head of the Fuse branch of the Abe family and Miyuki was now acknowledged as the head of the entire Ohotomo family. Two years after that, in 696, they were each given 80 retainers to support them.  Fuse no Miushi is actually mentioned at that time as Abe no Miushi.  That same year, we again see Fujiwara no Fubito show up, but with only 50 retainers.  Fubito would eventually rise to the top of the court food chain, but at this point, it was still in the hands of courtiers like Fuse no Abe no Miushi and Ohotomo no Miyuki. Fuse no Miushi would go on to have an incredible career.  He would become Dainagon and eventually he would become the Udaijin, the Minister of the Right, one of the highest positions anyone could hope to achieve at court. Ohotomo no Miyuki would not make it quite so far.  Like Miushi, he made it to Dainagon, but he died in the first month of 701, just 55 years old.  He had made it to the third rank, and he was posthumously granted the title of Udaijin—the position was vacant at the time—and granted second rank.  His colleague, Abe no Miushi, would go on to take the position only four months later and serve for a couple of years before passing away himself. These two would have worked closely together throughout their careers, and the fact that they were raised in rank and position on similar timelines suggests to me that they ran together in very close circles.  They would have been working in similar positions, at the same levels of the government.  They would have been going to the same parties and partaking in the same banquets and entertainments.   They were no doubt rivals, in a sense, but also equals.  Both families would go on, even as the Fujiwara clan came to dominate the politics of the era, the Ohotomo and Abe would continue to hold power in the court during the Nara period, though eventually it would decline.  The Ohotomo would eventually become just the Tomo, to avoid conflicting with the name of a slater sovereign, and the main house would eventually decline, though branch families would continue to claim descent from the Ohotomo into to the Edo period. The Abe would continue, similarly pushing against the Fujiwara.  The most famous Abe was probably Abe no Seimei, who became known for his skills as an Onmyouji, or master of Yin-yang divination and magic.  The Tsuchimikado branch of the Abe family would continue that tradition, and it would come to largely define the main branch of the family. I hope that gives a bit of an idea of what was going on in the court and the kinds of careers that people were looking at and what was happening.  We cannot get into every single person, but I'm going to try and note some of the more prominent courtiers and what they were doing.  It isn't always clear from the Chronicles what was going on between the various houses, but one can largely assume that the court was highly political.  Different factions were vying for power and position.  Sitting atop all of it, Uno no Sarara would have to perform her own kind of balancing act, doling out rewards and punishments as necessary, and ensuring to place the right people in positions of power and authority.  On the one hand, that ambition was a motivating factor, keeping the people of the court focused on the tasks at hand and ensuring that the court was running smoothly.  On the other hand, too much power in the hands of any one individual could cause them to get ideas that they should have even more.  The main bulwark against this was everyone else in the system—the checks and balances were literally the other court nobles, who weren't going to just let someone  take power unless there was something in it for them as well.  More on that as we watch this reign unfold. But for now, thank you so much for listening and downloading the podcast.  If you like what we are doing, please tell your friends and feel free to rate us wherever you listen to podcasts.  If you feel the need to do more, and want to help us keep this going, we have information about how you can donate on Patreon or through our KoFi site, ko-fi.com/sengokudaimyo, or find the links over at our main website,  SengokuDaimyo.com/Podcast, where we will have some more discussion on topics from this episode. Also, feel free to reach out to our Sengoku Daimyo Facebook page.  You can also email us at the.sengoku.daimyo@gmail.com.  Thank you, also, to Ellen for their work editing the podcast. And that's all for now.  Thank you again, and I'll see you next episode on Sengoku Daimyo's Chronicles of Japan.

Deep in the mountains in the heart of Central Asia, an AFM missionary family seeks to share the gospel with the unreached people of this predominantly Hindu and Buddhist region. It's a tall task, but what the Castillo family discovered was that God has already been working on hearts through the influence of the Holy Spirit.                                                               ----------------Today's stories are told by the Castillo family, AFM career missionaries on the Himadri Project in Central Asia. Subscribe and leave us a review if you enjoyed listening to today's story!

There's a story about the Buddha bowing to the tree under which he has just gained Enlightenment. Inspired by this this story, Vajragupta sees the whole path to Awakening in terms of gratitude. The grasping mind cannot feel grateful. But the Awakened know and feel just how deeply they are supported and enabled by other people, other life, and conditions in the world around them. Vajragupta uses poetry and anecdotes to give four suggestions for "turning our lives into gratitude". He sees the practice of gratitude as a wisdom or insight practice. From the mind-set and perspective of gratitude, the world becomes larger, more beautiful and abundant, and we naturally wish to give back. This talk was given at Croydon Buddhist Centre, 2025. *** 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

What becomes possible when we understand social and political harm not only as injustice, but as expressions of collective trauma? In this conversation, Kazu Haga—activist, trainer, and author of Fierce Vulnerability: Healing from Trauma, Emerging Through Collapse—joins host Serena Bian to explore why healing is so essential to radically reimagining the worlds we wish to build in the midst of collapse. This conversation explores the possibility that the work of social transformation cannot be separated from the work of inner transformation. Rather than reinforcing the familiar patterns of opposition of “us and them,” “right and wrong," Kazu invites us to consider pathways of change that are rooted in relationship, spiritual practice, and the long arc of healing. Drawing from decades of work in nonviolence, restorative justice, and Buddhist practice, Kazu reflects on the limitations of movement strategies that mirror the very dynamics they seek to transform. What might it mean to respond to harm in ways that do not escalate division, but instead create the conditions for healing, within ourselves, our communities, and the larger body politic? *** The New School is Commonweal's learning community and podcast — we offer conversations, workshops, and other events in areas that Commonweal champions: finding meaning, growing health and resilience, advocating for justice, and stewarding the natural world. We make our conversations into podcasts for listeners world wide and have been doing this since 2007. Please like/follow our SoundCloud channel for access to our library of more than 400 great podcasts.

Assaulted at a Buddhist center known for cover-ups, you were silenced. How do you keep the kids safe when your ex takes them there? It's Feedback Friday!And in case you didn't already know it, Jordan Harbinger (@JordanHarbinger) and Gabriel Mizrahi (@GabeMizrahi) banter and take your comments and questions for Feedback Friday right here every week! If you want us to answer your question, register your feedback, or tell your story on one of our upcoming weekly Feedback Friday episodes, drop us a line at friday@jordanharbinger.com. Now let's dive in!Full show notes and resources can be found here: jordanharbinger.com/1335On This Week's Feedback Friday:A positive update from the listener who wrote in for interview advice (question two, episode 1324)!Four months ago you earned a shiny promotion to a leadership role — and then quietly kept doing your entire old finance job too, with no transition plan, no extra pay, and a passive manager who'd rather you stayed quiet. The company has the money; they just don't have the incentive. How do you force clarity without getting branded "not a team player"? [Thanks to HR professional Joanna Tate for helping us with this one!]You were sexually assaulted at your kids' father's place of worship — a Buddhist center with a documented history of abuse and cover-ups — and reporting it got you silenced, suppressed, and forced to keep attending. Now you share custody, your ex still brings the kids there, and you're desperate to keep them safe without scaring them. How do you talk to your children about this? [Thanks yet again to clinical psychologist Dr. Erin Margolis and attorney Corbin Payne for helping us with this one!]Your 83-year-old mother has been "dying" for a decade, bankrolls your life, and uses that money as a leash — keeping you next door, watching from her window, after a childhood betrayal you're still carrying. You feel guilt, shame, and a creeping sense you have no power here. But what if the most uncomfortable question is how much agency you've had all along?Recommendation of the Week: Bose SoundLink Flex — Gabe's everyday Bluetooth speaker and his all-time favorite.Gabe revisits last week's tangle over belief and counseling, then reaches for David Mamet's True and False — a book ostensibly about acting that turns out to be about how we white-knuckle our beliefs instead of simply accepting what's in front of us.Have any questions, comments, or stories you'd like to share with us? Drop us a line at friday@jordanharbinger.com!Connect with Jordan on Twitter at @JordanHarbinger and Instagram at @jordanharbinger.Connect with Gabriel on Twitter at @GabeMizrahi and Instagram @gabrielmizrahi.And if you're still game to support us, please leave a review here — even one sentence helps! Sign up for Six-Minute Networking — our free networking and relationship development mini course — at jordanharbinger.com/course!Subscribe to our once-a-week Wee Bit Wiser newsletter today and start filling your Wednesdays with wisdom!Do you even Reddit, bro? Join us at r/JordanHarbinger!This Episode Is Brought To You By Our Fine Sponsors: Paka: Paka hoodie & crew socks: go.pakaapparel.com/jordanMarathon Rewards: Sign up today: marathonrewards.comMomentous: 35% off first order: livemomentous.com, code JHSAT&T: Get an iPhone 17 Pro for $0: att.com/iphone or visit an AT&T store for detailsSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Equanimity unfolds as we find a wise balance and spaciousness in the midst of this living, dying world. This series reflects on four primary expressions of an awake, wise heart: lovingkindness, compassion, joy and equanimity. In each talk we explore the habitual patterning that blocks our full realization of these innate capacities, and the understandings and practices that nurture their unfolding. In this talk, Tara explores how equanimity—the spacious, awake presence that can hold life just as it is—is an essential foundation for love, compassion, and joy to fully flourish.  Drawing from Buddhist teachings on the Brahmaviharas, we reflect on how equanimity is not indifference or passivity, but a courageous openness that allows us to stay present with pain without hardening into blame or fear. Through stories, poetry, guided reflection, and practical meditation instruction, she invites us to discover the freedom of becoming "the ocean" that can hold all the changing waves of experience with compassion and care. In this talk, you'll discover: How equanimity creates the inner balance that allows love, compassion, and joy to mature and deepen The difference between true equanimity and emotional withdrawal or indifference How mindfulness and kindness help us move from reactivity into wise, compassionate presence The practice of "being the ocean, not the waves" when facing fear, conflict, or uncertainty How equanimity supports healing, courageous action, and a heart that is "ready for anything" A guided meditation for working with difficult emotions and relationships with awareness and compassion This talk is especially supportive for anyone seeking emotional balance, mindfulness, self-compassion, spiritual awakening, healing relationships, and finding peace in uncertain times. Our introduction music is from "Opening" by Adrienne Torf, © 2025 ABT Music

Each of us is already enlightened but it can be difficult to believe when we hit problems. Dr. Victoria Smith, of New Orleans, had overcome so much through Buddhist practice but still struggled to see herself as a Buddha. Today she shares how she finally broke through.Watch today's episode on YouTube.

A few weeks ago Elis refused to accept the Buddhist idiom ‘the glass is already broken'. In so doing, did he set back mindfulness 10,000 billion years, or did he inadvertently birth a great podcast-first feature? We're hoping it's the latter; welcome to Common Zense.And top-tier podcasting doesn't stop there, because Elis and John have also gone and created the Golden Texter, the Eagle Topic. Commercial digital indie radio, here we come (again).Elsewhere, Elis wants to nationalise headphones, John dissects his love of cowboys, and there's another cracking TV treatment for the Cymru Connection.To send in your mindful idioms for Elis to trash, email hello@elisandjohn.com.And get yourself ready for our next Adventure, The Boys Go Birdwatching, here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/adventure-3-boys-158953760/For lots of exclusive EJJR #content, join our Patreon at patreon.com/elisandjohn.For weekly visual highlights, head to youtube.com/@elisandjohn.For everything else, head to elisandjohn.com.The Elis James and John Robins Show is a Significant Production. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Learning to live with pain and illness is challenging, arduous work. Often, people can go for months or even years without sufficient answers. Life gets turned completely upside down. The body you thought you had suddenly becomes something you don't recognize or know how to work with.  This week, meditation teacher and hypnotherapist Juliana Sloane offers an imaginative meditation that invites softness and self-compassion in the midst of discomfort.   Juliana Sloane is a Buddhist teacher, hypnotherapist, and coach specializing in Depth Hypnosis, applied shamanic counseling, and client-centered neuroplasticity. She blends ancient wisdom traditions, hypnosis, and evidence-based approaches to help individuals create lasting transformation beyond the conscious mind. She helps clients transcend the limitations of talk therapy and achieve lasting transformation. Based in Santa Fe, NM, she teaches nationally and works one-on-one with clients worldwide. The transcription of this guided meditation will be online and in our app at Mindful.org next week.  Stay curious, stay inspired. Sign up for our free newsletter mindful.org/signup or download the app for free at mindful.org/app.  Show Notes Find more from Juliana Sloane here. You can read our recent interview with Juliana and learn more about her work combining mindfulness, meditation, and hypnosis for deeper healing and transformation with her clients.  Go Deeper For more resources on how mindfulness can help you live more fully with illness or pain, check out these resources on Mindful.org:  What Unexpected Chronic Back Pain Taught Me: 4 Takeaways That Matter  Let Your Pain Be a River: Vidyamala Burch on Living and Teaching With Chronic Pain  Pain Opens a Door  How to Live Well with Chronic Pain and Illness  For more practice creating a sense of safety inside your own body, try:  A Meditation for Easing Pain and Inviting Joy  And more from Mindful here: More episodes of 12 Minute Meditation Let us know what you thought of this episode of 12 Minute Meditation by leaving a review or by emailing yourwords@mindful.org.

This week's show was recorded using an improvised audio recording setup while the podcast team was on pilgrimage through India. Thank you for your understanding.

Today, Katie chats with intuitive healer and friend of the podcast, Angelica Neri, for a powerful conversation about intuition, female entrepreneurship and spiritual growth. They share how to distinguish the voice of intuition from the ego, cultivate calm in the midst of solopreneur chaos and build a business rooted in purpose and connection to spirit. If you're ready to finally start the business of your dreams, this episode will leave you feeling inspired and empowered to begin! Thank you to our friends at Banyan Botanicals for sponsoring this episode! Click here to learn more about Katie's favorite Banyan products and try them yourself. Use the discount code KATIES15 for 15% off your first purchase! In this episode for female entrepreneurs, you'll hear: ~ How Katie and Angelica tune in to their intuition ~ The #1 enemy of the intuition ~ Sohum Mountain Healing Resort with Dr. Lad ~ Why Tantrics seek out graveyards ~ A Buddhist practice to release comparison and judgment ~ Dissolving an old identity to step into your new role as a female entrepreneur ~ The Ayurvedic concept of Bindu Visarga ~ The biggest destroyer of new businesses ~ Parallels between female entrepreneurship and the spiritual journey ~ Tips for becoming a successful female entrepreneur ~ Separating yourself, your ego and your business ~ Being a vessel for spirit ~ How to distinguish between the voices of ego and intuition   Connect with Angelica Neri: ~ Check out Angelica's Shift Your Frequency Program! ~ Follow Angelica on Instagram ~ Listen to Angelica on The Divine Feminine Healer's Podcast Connect with Katie and The Shakti School: ~ Sign up for our free mini-course about Women's Wisdom and Ayurveda! ~ Follow The Shakti School on Instagram and Facebook ~ Read Katie's latest book, Glow-Worthy! Get the full show notes here: https://theshaktischool.com/ep-245-spirit-led-business-success-for-female-entrepreneurs/

In this extraordinary episode Reagan talks with Ryan Skoog who is an author and the founder and president of VENTURE, a nonprofit that works in the toughest places of the world, serving war refugees, trafficked people, oppressed children, and the unreached.  Ryan shares personal stories about encountering benevolent angels, the demonic, miracles of God and the power of the Lord Jesus Christ that has transformed his life to reach the darkest places of the world. Ryan co-authored the book, "Lead with Prayer" which has moved many around the world to use their faith in Christ to pray without ceasing for God's Kingdom to come to earth as it is in heaven.  Ryan explains how the global church is exploding around the world even through persecution and intense evil and through the power of prayer people are encountering the love of Jesus as they get set free from the demonic chains of the enemy! This conversation will inspire you to see prayer not as an afterthought, but as the central strategy of the Christian life. Resources: More from the Revelations Podcast hosted by Reagan Kramer: Website | Instagram | Apple Podcast | Youtube Guest: Ryan Skoog, Co-Founder & President of Venture.org, Author of Lead with Prayer Ryan Skoog: https://www.leadwithprayer.com/ | https://www.instagram.com/ryanskoog/ This Episode is brought to you by  Advanced Medicine Alternatives Get back to the active life you love through natural & regenerative musculoskeletal healing: https://www.georgekramermd.com/ Episode Highlights (02:00) – Childhood Fear & Angel Encounter Ryan recalls growing up with intense anxiety until a supernatural angelic visitation changed his life: “I heard a voice say, I'm guarding your house. You don't have to be afraid.” That encounter set him on a path of boldness—leading him into war zones, Bible smuggling, and fearless ministry. (04:30) – The Global Church Is Exploding Ryan explains how the church is growing faster today than at any point in history, especially in places considered unsafe, unreached, and under-resourced. (10:30) – Learning from the Global Church Ryan challenges Western believers to sit at the feet of persecuted Christians: (12:30) – The Power of Prayer in Leadership Ryan shares research revealing that many Western leaders pray less as they gain experience—contrary to Jesus' example of withdrawing more often to be with the Father. The book Lead with Prayer was born out of hundreds of interviews with global leaders whose prayer lives looked remarkably similar. (15:00) – Mama Rose's Story One of the most moving testimonies: a woman whose home was bombed seven times, who stared down a cobra while bombs fell, and who now cares for thousands of orphans. Her prayer habit? “I tithe my time—two and a half hours with Jesus every day.” (17:30) – Prayer as Friendship with Jesus From war zones to Wall Street, Ryan highlights how true prayer is rooted in relationship: (19:16) – Walking with God Daily Reagan reflects on her own prayer walks and how they mirror the global church's simple yet profound practice of abiding in Christ. 20:59Walking with God: A Return to Eden Ryan reflects on Genesis and Acts 3, describing how sin interrupted our walk with God—and how Christ restores it. “Repent and believe… so the cool of the day may return.” 23:14Crisis & Nightmares: The Catalyst for Change During COVID, Ryan's business collapsed—and his daughter was tormented by terrifying nightmares connected to their ministry. 24:08“You've Never Cried Alone” Ryan recounts an emotional encounter with Jesus. He sees Christ weeping with him—a moment that reveals the deep empathy of God. 28:25Jesus Weeps With Us The host reflects on a past ministry experience where someone saw Jesus weeping with a rape survivor—prompting a powerful conversation on the mystery of suffering and Christ's compassion. “Jesus is weeping with you. He continually intercedes for us.” 30:28Adoption, War, and Jesus' Presence Ryan shares the harrowing story of adopting a girl whose father was tortured in Myanmar. After surviving unimaginable trauma, she experienced a healing vision of Jesus telling her: “You're safe now.” 31:55From Night Terrors to Peace Since that moment with Jesus, she has not had a single night terror. Though still healing, the transformation began in one moment of divine presence. 32:18God's Special Grace for the Vulnerable Ryan and the host reflect on how children—especially those with special needs or trauma—often experience heaven in unique, personal ways. “Why would we think otherwise? Our God is so good.” 33:22Karma vs. the Gospel: Identity and Worth in Nepal Ryan explains how Hindu and Buddhist worldviews contribute to generational oppression and trafficking—especially among the Badi people in Nepal, known nationally as “the trafficked caste.” “Until the gospel comes in and transforms their identity… they believe they deserve to be abused.” 34:48The Gospel is Exploding Despite deep-rooted oppression, the gospel is transforming hearts around the world. One academic missions expert summed it up: “Jesus is crushing it.” 36:47When Prayer Doesn't Make Sense (But You Obey Anyway) Even when the Spirit's answer seems illogical, obedience is the path of wisdom and safety. 38:13When Partners Are Imprisoned or Martyred Heart-wrenching updates from global partners, some of whom are jailed or martyred for sharing the gospel. “We created a separate fund for the widows of martyred and imprisoned partners.” 38:46Their Prayer: Let the Gospel Go Fast Despite persecution, these leaders pray not for safety but for speed—that the good news would spread rapidly. 40:02Stop Selling, Start Loving The global church models evangelism not as performance or pressure, but as presence, prayer, and love. “In America, we don't pray as much and feel like we need to be salesmen.” 40:36 — Neuroscience and Prayer Habits Research shows: 20 minutes of prayer a day for 8 weeks can literally rewire your brain—reducing fear, anxiety, and increasing joy and openness. “Our bodies are wired to fight prayer. We have to train them.” 41:49 — Free Prayer Tools Ryan mentions free downloadable prayer habit cards at LeadWithPrayer.com, designed to help individuals, families, and ministries build consistent, life-giving prayer rhythms. 43:06 — Fighting for His Daughter in Prayer Ryan shares a personal, vulnerable story of laying face-down outside his daughter's room for months, praying for breakthrough. “I don't know why it took so long—but there is a war.” 43:45 — Spiritual Battles Are Real A chilling moment of spiritual connection: a man in South East Asia has identical nightmares to Ryan's daughter—confirming they were fighting the same battle from across the world. “We were fighting together.” 46:22 — With Him, Either Way Whether through cancer, trauma, or unanswered prayer, being with Jesus is always the goal. The joy of the global church often comes from this eternal mindset. “If the goal of life is to be like Jesus, then cancer was finishing school.” 47:57 — Your Kids Aren't Your Own Surrendering your children to God's leadership is painful—but essential. Whether it's through a miracle or a challenge, they are gifts to steward. “The gifts are both miracles and challenges.” 52:04 — Intimacy Through Surrender The most profound joy comes not from ease, but from intimacy with God in suffering. Every story in Lead With Prayer ends the same way: it was worth it, because He was there. “Desire His presence… even when you don't know what's next.”  

When people are taught that they are “white” and then shown how evil “white” people supposedly are, then it makes sense why they identify with that label and strive to defend the same. But what if “white” is as much of a social construct as “black”? What if many of the people we call “white” and credit with building America or civilization in general were always identified by their cultural heritage? Rome was diverse and founded on Greek philosophy, neither of which were “white.” America was built by the Dutch, Germans, Irish, Scottish, Italians, Chinese, Slavs, etc. Although some may fall into a broad definition of “white” or European, the fact remains that “whites” were not the sole builders of America. What matters first is culture and ethnicity, then region, and finally by modern standards some arbitrary color wheel. It is only when you learn that “white” is meant to be an insult, like use of the abbreviation “nazi,” that it all begins to make more sense. The same is true for “white trash,” which was the basis of contemporary “black culture.” Additionally, the idea that “white” people built the modern world is just fundamentally not true. Whatever “white” is, these people certainly contributed to the building of civilization, even more than certain other groups. But China developed the compass, paper, modern money, gun powder, and printing — in fact, the oldest printed book in the world is not a Gutenberg Bible, it is a Buddhist text predating that book by over 500 years. Doesn't this count for something? The growing rebellious use of racial insults and the embracing of undefinable or inaccurate “white culture” is not what it all may seem. The idea that “blacks” or “whites” invented the world is without doubt part of an op.*The is the FREE archive, which includes advertisements. If you want an ad-free experience, you can subscribe below underneath the show description.

 "Your life is a garden and whatever you cultivate is what springs up, and if you don't pull out certain weeds, it ends up choking out the good stuff." My good friend, Dr. Word Smith is back for the third time. He flew into Philly, we sat down with zero agenda, and what came out was one of the most honest, layered conversations I've had on this show about relationships, childhood wounds, codependency, Buddhism, karma, and what it actually takes to change.We get into why intimate relationships are the sharpest mirror we have for our unprocessed childhood material, and why most of us don't even have language for what we didn't receive growing up, only a feeling that something was missing. Word shares his own journey through toxic shame, perfectionism, and self-criticism, and what it looked like to actually move through it over 25 years of real inner work. We also dive into Buddhism, the concept of seed planting, why just changing your thoughts doesn't work, and why the feelings and the body have to be part of the equation.Then we go deep into codependency, the slow, invisible way it builds, how it rewards you just enough to keep you stuck, and what it means to finally hit the wall where continuing the old way is no longer an option. We talk about the container: what it means to have a safe space where your body knows it can finally feel, and why that safety isn't a luxury, it's the actual mechanism of change. We close with a tease: we may be co-facilitating a retreat this fall. Stay tuned.TODAY'S HIGHLIGHTSWhy intimate relationships trigger us more than anything elseThe moment Word finally understood what toxic shame wasHow to trace shame back to childhood: what questions to ask yourselfWhy affirmations alone don't work, and what you're missing when you skip the feelings and bodyBuddhism, karma, and seed plantingCodependency: a survival mechanism that stops serving youThe perimenopause layer: why women in their 40s suddenly can't tolerate the old patterns anymoreSelf-abandonment disguised as being a good mom, wife, partner, and how to start seeing itThe container: why your body knows when it's safe to feel, and why that space is the key to processingFall retreat announcement. More details coming soonCONTACT DR. WORD SMITHDr. Word Smith is an energy worker, coach, Buddhist scholar, and Chinese medicine doctor with 25 years of experience helping people with manifestation, healing, and result-based transformation. Visit drwordsmithwisdom.comFollow on IG dr.wordsmithwisdom**WAYS TO ENTER MY WORLD**When you leave a review of the podcast on Apple Podcasts and send us a screenshot of it, we'll send you a $250 credit that you can apply to anything else in my world.Join me in The Metamorphosis which is my 3-month, groundbreaking, flagship program to rapidly and efficiently clear the familial and ancestral trauma that is blocking you from experiencing the wealth and freedom that you desire.Check out my newest video on my YouTube channel What's the Inner Critic + 7-Min Breathwork to Release ItQuestions? Let's jump on a call CONTACT ALYSEYouTube @alysebreathesalysebreathes.comIG @alyse_breathesinfo@alysebreathes.com

Dory Bavarsky is a composer and music producer known for his music for television and film and his record label Full Color Sound Records. Recently, musician Devendra Banhart introduced Jaymee to Dory at a Buddhist gathering, and in the weeks that followed the two new friends entered into a mutual admiration society of each others work. On a recent trip to the Esalen Institute in Big Sur, Dory wrote an incredible song titled 'A Zen Master' which instantly became a favorite song of Jaymee's (you'll hear a live performance of the song to begin the episode). This conversation is truly a vibe, a thick atmosphere of playful contemplation about life and what's behind it all, emotionally, physically and spiritually.LITA PODCAST: hosted, produced, and recorded by Jaymee Carpenter. SOUND MIXED: Chris FallerOPENING SONG: A Zen Master by Dory BavarskyCLOSING SONG: Ocean Of Beauty by Earthtones Music & Sheela BringiInterested in Trauma Counseling/Mentorship with Jaymee?email: lacee@loveistheauthor.com to set up a free consultation,or visit: www.loveistheauthor.com/mentorship SPONSORS: YERBA MADRE ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.yerbamadre.com⁠RAUM GOODS ⁠⁠⁠⁠www.raumgoods.com⁠⁠⁠⁠BOSSANOVA SOAP www.bossanovasoap.com⁠⁠⁠⁠TOTALLY BLOWN ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.totallyblown.us⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠INDIAN LODGE ROAD ⁠⁠⁠⁠www.indianlodgeroad.com⁠⁠⁠⁠THiS SHOW is a LABOR of LOVE. PLEASE SUPPORT IT: ⁠⁠⁠⁠www.patreon.com/loveistheauthorpodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠FAN CONTACT: lacee@loveistheauthor.comON INSTAGRAM:  @loveistheauthor  / @unconventionalgardener

We explore mindful hunger, silent monastic meal rituals, and how attention shifts taste, mood, and choice. Practical tools include raisin and chocolate meditations, body-based regulation, and tea practices that turn comfort into conscious care.• setting a clear intention for mindful eating and drinking• monastic meal rituals as training for presence• discerning hunger, thirst, emotion and habit• raisin and chocolate exercises for sensory awareness• reducing resistance to hunger to reduce suffering• mapping how foods affect clarity, mood and energy• body scanning to soften held tension• integrating tea ceremony as everyday presence• applying mindfulness to personal stories for regulation• Q&A on guiding storytellers and building steady practiceTeach mindfulness without self-doubt, fear of judgment, or imposter syndrome. Learn about our Internationally Accredited Certification Program:  https://certify.mindfulnessexercises.com/Mindfulness Exercises with Sean Fargo is a practical, grounded mindfulness podcast for people who want meditation to actually help in real life.Hosted by Sean Fargo — a former Buddhist monk, mindfulness teacher, and founder of MindfulnessExercises.com — this podcast explores how mindfulness can support mental health, emotional regulation, trauma sensitivity, chronic pain, leadership, creativity, and meaningful work.Each episode offers a mix of:Practical mindfulness and meditation teachingsConversations with respected meditation teachers, clinicians, authors, and researchersReal-world insights for therapists, coaches, yoga teachers, educators, and caregiversGentle reflections for anyone navigating stress, anxiety, burnout, grief, or changeIf you're interested in:Mindfulness meditation for everyday lifeTrauma-sensitive and compassion-based practicesTeaching mindfulness in an authentic, non-performative wayDeepening your own practice while supporting others…you're in the right place.Learn more at ...

"About 18 months in, according to research, that a lot of the thrill starts to fade a little and it turns into what I call marriage or relationship incorporated." Long-term relationships don't fail because people stop loving each other. They often fade because couples stop intentionally creating connection, excitement, and emotional closeness. Real happiness cannot depend entirely on another person. Strong relationships are built through communication, appreciation, sensual connection, and consistent effort. The episode explores how couples slowly drift into routines, how "relationship incorporated" replaces romance, and why intimacy, thrill, and sensuality must all be nurtured intentionally.  Dr. Cheryl Fraser explains why the "soulmate myth" can quietly damage relationships by making people believe their partner is responsible for their happiness. Cheryl shares her "three keys to passion" framework: intimacy, thrill, and sensuality. She also discusses the emotional and physical importance of touch, affection, sexuality, and vulnerability, while emphasizing that couples can rebuild connection at any stage of life.  Cheryl is a psychologist, Buddhist practitioner, relationship expert, speaker, and author of the book Buddha's Bedroom. She is known for combining modern relationship psychology with Buddhist wisdom and has spent decades helping couples strengthen emotional and sensual connection through her teaching programs and workshops. Learn more & connect: Book: Buddha's Bedroom by Dr. Cheryl Fraser https://a.co/d/48dKK67

You can be wildly successful and still be quietly falling apart inside. Joel Kinnaman has appeared in some of the most talked-about shows in Hollywood. He has starred in The Killing, Robocop, House of Cards, Altered Carbon, and is currently in his fifth season of For All Mankind. And he will be the first to tell you that none of that made the war inside his head any quieter. Before every live theater performance for three straight years, he threw up. He kept a bucket backstage. The negative voices in his mind were relentless, and he spent years drinking heavily, using drugs, and force-feeding himself in a desperate attempt to hide the shame he felt about a physical condition that had left him feeling deformed since childhood. What changed everything was not a breakthrough moment. It was a choice to stop running from the fear and bury himself in the work. He memorized a 105-minute one-man show in 10 days, playing 16 different characters, and walked on stage without throwing up for the first time. That experience taught him something he still carries: preparation is armor. The deeper a role is in your bones, the more freedom you have to be alive inside it. He is still working on the personal side. He describes himself as a disaster in relationships, not from a lack of care, but from years of treating his career as the only thing that could not touch him. He talks about wanting to find the balance between the structure that builds trust and the childlike wonder that keeps him creative. That tension is where this conversation lives. Joel's IMDB In this episode you will: Understand how shame about a physical condition called pectus excavatum triggered an eating disorder that took years to unpack and overcome Discover how Joel turned debilitating stage fright and a 3-year pattern of pre-performance vomiting into a breakthrough that rewired his relationship with fear Learn why preparation is the most underrated performance skill and why Joel insists on being at least 3 nights ahead on every scene he shoots Hear why Joel sees himself as a different man in his career versus his personal relationships, and what he believes he needs to change to close that gap Explore how Joel uses psilocybin experiences, breathwork, and the Buddhist concept of shepa to create space between triggers and reaction in his daily life For more information go to https://lewishowes.com/1933 For more Greatness text PODCAST to +1 (614) 350-3960 Follow The Daily Motivation for essential highlights from The School of Greatness More SOG episodes we think you'll love: Lewis Howes Solo [7 Habits To Be Happier] Josh Groban The Jonas Brothers TOPICS Joel Kinnaman, stage fright, eating disorder recovery, pectus excavatum, performance anxiety, preparation as armor, shepa, psilocybin, self-loathing, personal growth, For All Mankind, relationship consistency Get more from Lewis! Get my New York Times Bestselling book, Make Money Easy!Get The Greatness Mindset audiobook on SpotifyText Lewis AIYouTubeInstagramWebsiteTiktokFacebookX Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

On regulating emotions, ending the war with reality, and feeling more alive. Sebene Selassie is an author and meditation teacher. She writes the popular newsletter remind me to love and her first book is called, You Belong.  Jeff Warren is an author and meditation teacher. He writes the popular newsletter Home Base and is the coauthor, along with Dan, of a book called Meditation for Fidgety Skeptics. And he is the co-host of the mind/bod adventure pod. Join Dan, Sebene Selassie, and Jeff Warren for Meditation Party, a 3-day immersive retreat at the Omega Institute in Rhinebeck, NY, October 16–18. Grab your in-person spot here, or sign up to livestream here! In this episode we talk about: The 5 hindrances (a classic Buddhist list of everything that goes wrong when you sit down to meditate) Why your brain keeps wandering, numbing out, or picking fights with reality The difference between being tired… and just not wanting to deal How to catch yourself before you go full autopilot The "five recollections" of aging, sickness and death, and why they're actually grounding The comparing mind  How to step back and watch your thoughts instead of immediately buying into them Why the people in your life might be confused by the new, slightly calmer you Join Dan, Sebene Selassie, and Jeff Warren for Meditation Party, a 3-day immersive retreat at the Omega Institute in Rhinebeck, NY, October 16–18. Grab your in-person spot here, or sign up to livestream here! Get the 10% with Dan Harris app here Sign up for Dan's free newsletter here Follow Dan on social: Instagram, TikTok Subscribe to our YouTube Channel This episode is sponsored by: Northwest Registered Agent — LLC formation, registered agent service, and free business resources at https://www.northwestregisteredagent.com/Happierfree BetterHelp — Online therapy, matched to your needs. Get 10% off your first month at https://www.betterhelp.com/happier Wix — Build a fully functional website with AI in minutes at https://www.wix.com/harmony Warby Parker — Prescription glasses with virtual try-on. Buy one prescription pair and get 20% off additional prescription pairs at https://www.warbyparker.com/happier To advertise on the show, contact sales@advertisecast.com or visit https://advertising.libsyn.com/10HappierwithDanHarris

What if the most important skill of our moment isn't knowing more, but knowing what's actually worth caring about?Mark Manson is the bestselling author of The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck and Everything Is F*cked, with three #1 New York Times bestsellers and tens of millions of readers around the world. The last time Mark joined Finding Mastery was in 2020, mid-COVID, when uncertainty was loud and the world felt strange. Five years on, the world is no less strange... it's just strange differently. The information ecosystem has fractured. Trust is harder to find. And the same noise we worried about five years ago has become the air we all breathe.In this conversation with Dr. Michael Gervais, Mark walks through the three principles he's organized his life and work around: radical ownership, radical honesty, and radical acceptance. He explains why ownership is the foundation under everything, because nothing else really works until you take it. He explains why his bar for honesty is anything "relevant or pertinent to somebody's wellbeing." And he talks about why radical acceptance, the Buddhist part of him, is what allows agency without collapse.The conversation moves into territory both timely and timeless. Mark and Mike dig into why the decline of religion has helped the self-help industry explode, why a spiritual framework remains one of the strongest known protective factors for mental health, and how the comparison machinery in our brains, designed for a tribe of thirty, now buckles under the weight of three hundred million people on Instagram.Mark also opens up about Purpose, the AI app he's built, and what he learned designing it to be intentionally disagreeable. He explains why a yes-man entourage, whether it's people around a star athlete or an AI that agrees with everything you say, quietly untethers people from reality. And he shares the stoic-style practice he uses to stay honest with himself: imagining what would be true if he were the problem, then holding that thought lightly enough to set it back down.By the end, Mark and Mike land on what feels like the heart of the episode... You can be perfect as you are, and you can always be better. Both can be true.In this conversation, we explore:Why sincerity has become the most valuable signal in a fractured information landscapeThe three principles Mark uses to navigate uncertainty: radical ownership, radical honesty, and radical acceptanceHow our ancient comparison brain breaks under the weight of social media at scaleWhy a spiritual framework remains one of the strongest known protective factors for mental healthThe premortem practice that helps Mark stay honest with himself, and why most of us avoid itWhy an AI (or a person) that agrees with everything you say is a slow-motion mental health riskHow to use AI as a thought partner without letting it do your thinking for youThe question that keeps Mark up at night, and might be worth asking yourselfIf you've ever felt like the noise is winning, or like you've lost the thread on what's worth caring about, this conversation offers a sturdier place to stand.Links & ResourcesThis episode is brought to you in part by our partner, Sunlighten, the company that has pioneered infrared sauna technology. Go to https://findingmastery.com/sunlighten to see how you can save up to $2,100 on their mPulse Intelligent Sauna.Subscribe to our Youtube Channel for more conversations at the intersection of high performance, leadership, and wellbeing: https://www.youtube.com/c/FindingMastery Get exclusive discounts and support our amazing sponsors!Go to: https://findingmastery.com/sponsors/ Subscribe to the Finding Mastery newsletter for weekly high performance insights: https://www.findingmastery.com/newsletter Download Dr. Mike's Morning Mindset Routine: findingmastery.com/morningmindset Follow on YouTube, Instagram, LinkedIn, and XMark Manson's Books: The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck, Everything Is F*cked: A Book About Hope, and Will (co-written with Will Smith)Mark's AI app, Purpose: https://markmanson.net (see Mark's site for the latest)See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Mikey Noechel offers a talk on dukkha, a Buddhist term commonly translated as “suffering.” In this episode, he explores a broader and more practical understanding of dukkha as stress. ***Summer of Love Meditation Retreat - July 15th-19th in Sewanee, TN with Mikey Noechel and Andrew Chapman: https://www.wildheartmeditationcenter.org/events/summer-of-love-retreat-2026 Wild Heart Meditation Center in a non-profit Buddhist community based in Nashville, TN. https://www.wildheartmeditationcenter.orgDONATE: If you feel moved to support WHMC financially please visit:https://www.wildheartmeditationcenter.org/donateFollow Us on Socials!Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WildHeartNashville/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wildheartnashville/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@wildheartmeditation

Join our Japanese Together community and explore podcast topics through discussion.In this reflective episode of Japanese with Noriko, Noriko explores the profound theme of death through language, culture, and personal experience. She begins by drawing a parallel between the fleeting beauty of cherry blossoms in Japan and the transient nature of life, highlighting how different flowers have unique expressions for “falling,” reflecting the nuance of Japanese language and worldview.Noriko then examines various ways to express death in Japanese, from direct terms like 死ぬ to softer expressions such as 「天国に行く」 or 「旅立つ」, showing how language shapes emotional perception. She shares personal encounters with death, including the loss of her grandfather, a childhood friend, and a colleague, illustrating how death appears repeatedly throughout life in different forms.The discussion expands to philosophical perspectives, including insights from a philosophy club and a Buddhist concept shared by a listener: 「往生する」, which frames death not as an end but as a transition and continuation. Noriko connects this idea back to nature's cycles, suggesting that death may not be purely tragic but part of a larger renewal.She concludes by inviting listeners to reflect on their own views about death and how it influences how they live today.儚い（はかない）— fleeting, transient満開（まんかい）— full bloom散る（ちる）— to fall (flowers)現象（げんしょう）— phenomenon表現（ひょうげん）— expression評価（ひょうか）— evaluation中立的（ちゅうりつてき）— neutral宗教観（しゅうきょうかん）— religious view結びつく（むすびつく）— to be connected恐ろしい（おそろしい）— frightening意識（いしき）— awareness漠然と（ばくぜんと）— vaguely同級生（どうきゅうせい）— classmate事故死（じこし）— accidental death溺れる（おぼれる）— to drown振り返る（ふりかえる）— to look back定期的（ていきてき）— regularly覚悟（かくご）— resolve, readiness影響（えいきょう）— influence浄土（じょうど）— Pure Land仏（ほとけ）— Buddha働きかける（はたらきかける）— to act upon, influence種（たね）— seed芽（め）— sprout受け入れる（うけいれる）— to accept

Buddhist students riot in Vietnam; Ronald Reagan slams Berkeley; Billy Graham crusades in London; Andy Warhol brings "The Exploding Plastic Inevitable" to San Francisco; a Santa Barbara judge orders sterilization or jail; Muhammad Ali retains his title. Newscaster: Joe Rubenstein.   Support this project on Patreon!

Most responses to civilizational crises focus outward – policy levers, energy systems, geopolitical actors, and material flows – with little focus on how the humans inside these systems might change and grow in parallel. At the same time, the minds that built this complex and fragile world are also the instruments we must use to navigate its unraveling, making them a critical factor in defining humanity's future. With that said, who will we be as simplification unfolds, and how do we prepare our inner terrains for what's coming? In this episode, Nate is joined by meditation practitioner, Andrew Holecek, for an exploration of the concept of dark retreats, periods of extended time in complete absence of light, as a practical path toward reflection and reconnection with ourselves and others. Andrew draws on decades of study in Tibetan Buddhism and non-dual wisdom traditions to explore how the external complexity of modern life is mirrored in the internal complexity of the modern mind. Central to his work is the concept of non-duality: a return from the fragmented display of self-versus-world toward a more unified, less suffering-prone relationship with reality. Andrew and Nate also explore the misleading entanglement of happiness and consumption, arguing that satisfaction arises not from acquiring what we want, but from the cessation of wanting itself.  What would it mean to practice darkness as a needed reprieve from constant light and stimulation, rather than deprivation? If the coming decades hold a forced reduction in external, material complexity, how could a deepening of our internal worlds make us more resilient, compassionate, and grounded? And could confronting fear – by learning to move through it rather than avoid it – be one of the most practical preparations for navigating future uncertainty and social fracture? (Conversation recorded on April 28th, 2026)    About Dr. Andrew Holecek: Andrew Holecek is an interdisciplinary scholar-practitioner in Tibetan Buddhism and other nondual wisdom traditions who has spent over thirty years helping people transform life's greatest challenges into opportunities for awakening. A dedicated meditation practitioner who completed the traditional Tibetan Buddhist three-year retreat, Andrew is known for making profound contemplative practices accessible and practical. He is actively involved in scientific research on dark retreat with the University of Wisconsin-Madison, as well as the Institute for Advanced Consciousness Studies where he serves as Resident Contemplative Scholar. Andrew is a member of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine, the author of several scientific papers on lucid dreaming, and was also the host of the now-concluded Edge of Mind podcast, where he interviewed guests to explore ancient teachings and modern topics about the nature of mind and reality. Andrew's newest area of focus is dark retreat, the ancient Buddhist practice of extended meditation in complete darkness. His most recent book, Total Eclipse of the Mind: Unleashing the Power of Darkness for Creativity, Healing, and Transformation, draws on more than thirty years of personal dark retreat experience. True to his approach, Andrew teaches dark retreat – and the more accessible gray retreat practice of weaving in and out of darkness – as a genuine path to healing, creativity, and self-understanding.   Show Notes and More   Watch this video episode on YouTube   Want to learn the broad overview of The Great Simplification in 30 minutes? Watch our Animated Movie.   ---   Support The Institute for the Study of Energy and Our Future   Join our Substack newsletter   Join our Hylo channel and connect with other listeners

This lecture explores the many different versions of “self” that arise within our minds through memory, emotion, relationships, expectations, and spiritual identity. Through Buddhist meditation, chanting, and mindfulness practice, we will examine how these shifting “me's” influence suffering, attachment, and inner peace. Participants will learn how Buddhist practice helps cultivate awareness, compassion, and harmony beyond the fragmented ego-self, revealing a deeper understanding of Buddha-nature and interconnected life. Open to all experience levels.

Micah Stover is an author, educator and therapist. She earned a B.A. in philosophy with an emphasis on Buddhist studies as well as an M.A. in Creative Writing, both from Belmont University. Micah is a Nashville native and has spent a collective 10 years living abroad in other cultures, studying in various indigenous communities in both Asia and Mexico. She published her first book in November of 2024, Healing Psychedelics: Innovative Therapies for Trauma and Transformation. Her focus in this book is to bring caution and measure to an exploding field, encouraging people to understand the risks of appropriation and the necessity of conjunctive therapy to yield results.

Why Isn't Everyone Using Their Pleasure Consciously? with Jeremy Lipkowitz What if the thing quietly hijacking your focus, your relationships, and your capacity for joy isn't a character flaw, but a billion-dollar industry deliberately engineering your addiction? In this episode, Emily Fletcher sits down with Jeremy Lipkowitz, Duke-trained researcher, former Buddhist monk, and founder of Unhooked Academy, where he helps men break free from porn addiction and reclaim their inner freedom. Jeremy's story begins at age six and escalates through the rise of high-speed internet until, by college, the habit had become a one-to-two-hour nightly ritual - despite him being a high-achieving student with what looked, from the outside, like a genuinely good life. That gap between the outer and the inner is exactly what this conversation explores. They trace the neurological pathway from innocent curiosity to compulsive behavior, unpack the precise distinction between lust and desire, and name the Viktor Frankl principle at the heart of all addiction recovery. Emily offers the Ziva lens: why you cannot manifest from a nervous system still running on craving and lack, and how meditation is the prerequisite for desire that is truly intuitive rather than compulsive. In this episode, they explore: – The three A's of porn addiction: affordability, accessibility, and anonymity – How repeated porn use hardwires dissatisfaction and chronic lack into the brain – Lust vs. desire — and why you need a spiritual practice to tell them apart – "Pleasure is inevitable. Happiness is optional." What that reframe changes – The Viktor Frankl principle: between stimulus and response is where freedom lives – Why porn addiction is a microcosm of every modern addiction – The two-step exercise Jeremy uses with clients: default future vs. dream future – How the porn industry became bigger than all U.S. professional sports combined Key Moments: 02:08 — Introducing Jeremy Lipkowitz 09:00 — High-speed internet and the moment a habit became an addiction 12:20 — The walk that changed Jeremy's life 14:00 — Lust vs. desire: the distinction that changes everything 26:25 — Between stimulus and response lies your freedom 33:54 — Pleasure vs. happiness: the most important distinction Jeremy has ever learned 43:47 — Bliss is any feeling fully felt 57:00 — The two-step exercise for any addiction 01:00:00 — The billion-dollar industry engineering your addiction About Jeremy Lipkowitz Jeremy Lipkowitz is a Duke-trained researcher, former Buddhist monk, and founder of Unhooked Academy. After completing 20 Vipassana retreats and a monastic ordination in Myanmar, he built a platform to help men break free from compulsive behavior and reclaim their inner freedom. His work bridges neuroscience, Buddhist psychology, and practical recovery tools. Podcast: Unhooked Breaking Porn Addiction PodcastWebsite: unhookedacademy.com This episode is a perfect window into the work we've been building toward at Ziva. The craving, the longing, the thing pulling you toward what doesn't actually fill you — Jeremy calls it lust. We have a different name for it. And we have a practice for transmuting it into something that does. Something new is forming this summer. Get on the list to hear about it first.

21st May 2026  Ajahn Santutthi hosted this week's meditation session at the Roleystone Family Centre. Roleystone Meditation Group's weekly classes are about an hour long and include a talk on meditation, meditating together, and questions & answers. The sessions are led by a Buddhist monk from Kusala Hermitage in Roleystone (Buddhist Society of WA). Support us on https://ko-fi.com/thebuddhistsocietyofwa BSWA teachings are available: BSWA Teachings BSWA Podcast Channel BSWA DeeperDhamma Podbean Channel BSWA YouTube   

Inflation, recession, global conflict, and post-pandemic exhaustion. Leaders today are operating under unprecedented levels of pressure, and many are finding that their own—and their team's—"fuses are getting shorter and shorter." In this archive episode of  Connected Leadership Bytes, Andy Lopata sits down with international speaker and serenity expert Martin Laschkolnig to discuss how leaders can maintain their composure when surrounded by crisis. Drawing on decades of business experience, Buddhist philosophy, and energy psychology, Martin explains why trying to "fix" a traumatised team member is the worst thing a leader can do, and why serenity is a muscle that must be trained before the crisis hits. If you want to stop reacting on autopilot and start leading with profound inner peace, this episode provides the practical tools you need to widen the space between event and reaction. 5 Key Takeaways: The Crisis Intervention Rule of 3: Discover the three essential steps leaders must take when a team member is in a crisis (and why "offering a solution" isn't one of them). The Limits of the "Fixer": Why jumping straight to "fix-it mode" can alienate your team, and why people need to feel "seen in their misery" before they can accept a solution. The Monkey Mind vs. The Sphere of Influence: How the "monkey mind's" desire to control everything causes burnout, and how to reclaim your power by focusing only on what you can actually influence. The "NATO" Mindset: How adopting the "Not Attached to the Outcome" philosophy can instantly reduce leadership stress in target-driven corporate environments. The Separation of Self and Problem: The profound psychological shift of realising "I have a problem, but I am not the problem," and why self-compassion is crucial for crisis management.  3 Actionable Insights Stop Giving Verbal Instructions in a Crisis: When an employee is overwhelmed or traumatised, always provide the next steps (e.g., "Go see HR") in writing or via a simple checklist to ensure they actually get the support they need. Defuse the Stress Hormones Daily: Do not wait for the weekend or a crisis to relax. Build a daily "micro-routine", whether it's five minutes of conscious breathing, digging in the garden, or taking a walk. Consistent, small steps build the foundation of resilience you will need when a storm hits. Widen the Space Between Event and Reaction: When you feel a strong emotion (like fear or anger) rising, do not react on autopilot. Step away. Take a few deep breaths. Create space to evaluate whether acting on that emotion will benefit you, or if it is better to let it pass. Your reaction determines the outcome; make sure it is a conscious choice. SELECTED LINKS FROM THE EPISODE Connect with Andy Lopata: Website | Instagram | LinkedIn | X/Twitter | YouTube Connect with Martin Laschkolnig: Website |LinkedIn | The Financial Times Guide to Mentoring Episode 171 Featuring Martin Laschkolnig

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

Have you ever been mid-conversation with your partner, felt your jaw tighten, your stomach drop, your brain go sideways — and some part of you already looking for the exit? That's not a character flaw. That's your nervous system treating your partner like a threat.EJ and Tarah Kerwin are couples therapists, founders of Relationship Renovation, and parents of twins born on their honeymoon. EJ — a yoga teacher and therapist — turned avoidant the moment real chaos arrived, and Tarah had a name for it: Buddhist motherf***er. They had to learn everything they now teach by surviving their own marriage in real time.This conversation goes deep on why your success traits destroy your closest relationships, how your childhood nervous system patterns are running your marriage without your consent, and what emotional safety actually feels like when a man finally builds it.IN THIS EPISODE:Why the traits that made you successful at work become your biggest relationship wreckersWhat a genogram reveals about your patterns — and why compassion always followsFINE = Feelings Inside Not Expressed — and what that silence costs youThe difference between hypo arousal and being regulated — most men confuse the twoTriple H — Heard, Hugged, or Helped? Ask before you fixYour partner is your greatest teacher — if you stop running from the lessonRELATED EPISODES:Ep. 105 — Learning to Respond Without Reactivity with Dr. Charles FrelighEp. 120 — Creating Emotional Stability with Jay FieldsEp. 124 — No More Mr. Nice Guy with Dr. Robert GloverFOLLOW EJ & TARAH:Website, Podcast& Couples Coaching: relationshiprenovation.comBook: Relationship Innovation at Homework — AmazonGET MORE FROM MTM:Text MTM to 33777 — free weekly newsletterSubscribe & All Episodes: mentalkingmindfulness.comA2A COURSE:12 modules on attention, presence & performance. Self-paced. Built for people who hate the word mindfulness.focusnowtraining.com/a2a→ This conversation maps directly to Module 4 of A2A: Regulating Your Nervous System Under PressureBRING FNT TO YOUR TEAM:Custom attention, resilience & leadership training. In-person or online.focusnowtraining.com/contactHosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

Prayer Moment 4 of 4 in MayPrayer for Radical Growth1. Overwhelming Presence: Pray that the overwhelming presence of the Holy Spirit will fill each church during prayer (Acts 4:31). 2. Unexplainable Attraction: Pray for unexplainable attraction that draws people to the church (Acts 2:46–47).3. Enveloping Love: Pray for an enveloping atmosphere of love that welcomes new people (Romans 12:9-13).

Peer support can feel like the missing link in addiction care, not because it replaces medicine, but because it makes recovery feel possible when someone is scared, ashamed, or shutting down. I'm Dr Casey Grover, and I sit down with Mark Ehrenkranz, a certified peer recovery specialist who does bedside work across a thousand-bed hospital, from the ED and ICU to behavioral health. Mark brings decades of recovery experience, plus the clarity that comes from having lived through relapse, depression, and the brutal way substance use disorder can hijack decision-making.We get practical about what peer recovery specialists actually do: building trust quickly, sharing just enough personal story to invite radical honesty, translating brain science into plain language, and helping patients move from crisis to a realistic next step. We also talk about the real-world barriers, including stigma in medical settings, limited funding for peer teams, and how different states handle certification and reimbursement. If you've ever searched for recovery coaching, peer recovery support services, sober support, or how to get help for addiction, this conversation maps the terrain with honesty and hope.We also go straight at the “one path” problem. AA helps many people, but it can feel dogmatic to others, so we discuss multiple pathways like SMART Recovery, CBT/DBT, secular and Buddhist recovery, online communities, and medication for opioid use disorder support spaces. Mark shares his “Navy SEAL Recovery” approach to nervous system regulation: one-minute diaphragmatic breathing, humming to stimulate the vagus nerve, and small doses of intentional discomfort to build resilience. If you care about compassionate, evidence-informed addiction treatment that respects individual fit, you'll leave with tools you can use today.Subscribe, share this with someone who needs it, and leave a review so more people can find the show.To learn more about Mark's work: https://www.go-humans.com/To contact Dr. Grover: ammadeeasy@fastmail.com

In this episode of Straight White American Jesus, host Brad Onishi sits down with Dr. Liz Bucar, religious ethicist and professor at Northeastern University, to unpack the hidden costs of the modern wellness industry. Exploring themes from her new book, Beyond Wellness: How Restoring the Religious Roots of Spiritual Practices Can Heal Us, Dr. Bucar argues that consumer culture has stripped profound traditions like yoga, mindfulness, and psychedelics into a "spiritual salad bar"—trading real transformation for quick dopamine hits. Through her own raw, firsthand experiences—including a grueling silent Buddhist retreat and a transformative ayahuasca ceremony while processing the grief of losing her father—she illustrates why separating these embodied practices from their ethical, communal roots ultimate leaves us spiritually malnourished. The conversation dives deep into the ethics of cultural appropriation and extraction, questioning how affluent Westerners commodify sacred traditions while the minoritized communities who sustained them struggle to survive. From analyzing Alcoholics Anonymous as the original "spiritual but not religious" program to unpacking a 97-year-old monk's parable on why we fail to find enlightenment, Dr. Bucar and Brad challenge listeners to move beyond self-care and re-engage with true community and obligation. Whether you practice daily meditation, teach yoga, or are simply curious about the intersection of religion and consumerism, this episode is a vital look at what it actually takes to dig a deep spiritual well. Subscribe for $3.65: ⁠https://axismundi.supercast.com/⁠ Subscribe to our free newsletter: ⁠https://swaj.substack.com/⁠ Order American Caesar by Brad Onishi: ⁠https://static.macmillan.com/static/essentials/american-caesar-9781250427922/⁠ Donate to SWAJ: https://axismundi.supercast.com/donations/new Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On short-circuiting anxiety, breaking thought loops, and learning how to talk to yourself. In this live Q&A, Dan covers: Why action is the best antidote to AI anxiety — and what's actually in your control How to use your meditation practice inside an MRI (and when it's okay to just get sedated) Joseph Goldstein's "dead end" technique for breaking out of repetitive thought loops Why certainty is not an indicator of truth — and how open-mindedness works in a polarized world The Buddhist take on alcohol, and Dan's surprisingly candid answer about his own relationship with substances How to stop feeding the need for external approval — without toxic positivity Why mindfulness in Pali literally means "remembering" — and why you'll always need to hear this stuff again Get the 10% with Dan Harris app here Sign up for Dan's free newsletter here Follow Dan on social: Instagram, TikTok Subscribe to our YouTube Channel Join Dan, Sebene Selassie and Jeff Warren for Meditation Party, a 3-day immersive retreat at the Omega Institute in Rhinebeck, NY, October 16–18, 2026. Register here. To advertise on the show, contact sales@advertisecast.com or visit https://advertising.libsyn.com/10HappierwithDanHarris

This talk explores the culminating factor of the Eightfold Path—Right Concentration—and the profound power of a steady, unified mind. In a world of constant distraction and fragmented attention, we investigate how deep focus becomes a gateway to inner stillness, clarity, and freedom. Drawing from classical Buddhist teachings and lived experience, this talk reveals how training attention is not just about meditation, but about reclaiming the depth, presence, and aliveness of your entire life.   You'll learn how to strengthen and stabilize attention through practical, time-tested methods, how to work skillfully with common obstacles like restlessness and doubt, and how concentration naturally matures from effort into ease. You'll also discover how a steady mind supports insight, emotional resilience, and a deep sense of well-being—opening the door to a more fully lived and awakened life.

Why you'll never find happiness where you're looking for it–and where to look instead. Joseph Goldstein is a cofounder of the Insight Meditation Society and the Barre Center for Buddhist Studies, both in Barre, Massachusetts. He is the author of many books including, most recently, Dreamscapes of the Mind.  In this episode we talk about: Why desire and wanting can keep us stuck in cycles of dissatisfaction The difference between momentary pleasure and deeper happiness A practical way to watch cravings arise and pass without reacting Why "not wanting" can feel surprisingly relieving The Buddhist framework of gratification, danger, and escape How to think about contentment and the question: how much is enough? The difference between guilt and wise remorse How desire, lust, and craving can distort judgment Join Dan, Sebene Selassie, and Jeff Warren for Meditation Party, a 3-day immersive retreat at the Omega Institute in Rhinebeck, NY, October 16–18. Grab your in-person spot here, or sign up to livestream here! Get the 10% with Dan Harris app here Sign up for Dan's free newsletter here Follow Dan on social: Instagram, TikTok Subscribe to our YouTube Channel Additional Resources:  Dharma Seed - freely offered talks from Western Buddhist Vipassana teachers This episode is sponsored by Function Health — 160+ lab tests a year for $365, with the ability to dive deeper into your results through Function's connections to platforms like ChatGPT and Claude. Join at https://www.functionhealth.com/happier or use code HAPPIER25 for a $25 credit toward your membership. To advertise on the show, contact sales@advertisecast.com or visit https://advertising.libsyn.com/10HappierwithDanHarris

Buddhist monk turned Peloton instructor Sam Yo joins Max to discuss overstimulation, doomscrolling, mindfulness, movement as meditation, and his new book A Monk's Mindset — exploring how to cultivate calm, clarity, and presence in a world designed to hijack your attention.This episode is proudly sponsored by:LMNT is my favorite delicious, sugar-free electrolyte powder to leave you feeling charged up after a sweat sesh. Get a free 8-serving sample pack at drinklmnt.com/geniuslife.Get 160+ labs per year for only a dollar a day to OWN your health with Function Health! http://functionhealth.com/max and use gift code MAX25 for $25 off.

In this deeply moving talk offered to those living through war in Ukraine, Jack Kornfield reminds us that even in the most difficult conditions, the human heart has the capacity to remain open, compassionate, and free.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 Kornfield shares:Creating inner peace in the midst of external conflictThe practice of self-compassion in times of overwhelmHow to work with suffering without internalizing itReconnecting with inner resources like nature, community, and intentionThe teaching that “hatred never ends by hatred” “Even though there is war around us, it is possible to create an island of peace in the middle of it all—and not let the war take over our hearts.” –Jack KornfieldThe episode was originally filmed for Mantra Ukraine, you can learn more about them on InstagramAbout 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.“If the suffering of the world has now taken over your body, it's in the wrong place. You need to leave it outside and not carry it inside your heart.” –Jack KornfieldStay 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.