Podcasts about Buddhism

Why do even the healthiest relationships bring up our deepest fears and insecurities? And what if those difficult moments aren't signs that something is wrong, but opportunities to grow? In this episode, I sit down with Buddhist teacher and meditation practitioner Devon Hase to explore what Buddhism can teach us about love, conflict, emotional resilience, and authentic connection. We discuss how to cultivate intimacy without abandoning yourself, why relationships reveal our deepest patterns, and how to approach them with greater awareness and compassion. If you'd like to build stronger, healthier relationships while staying true to yourself, I think you'll find this conversation both insightful and deeply reassuring.

Behind Jet Li's martial arts mastery and international fame is a deeply personal journey to understand purpose, ego, and freedom. In today's episode, he sits down with Ryan to discuss the three levels of martial arts, how surviving the 2004 tsunami changed his life, and what he believes is the highest form of strength.Jet Li is a martial artist, actor, philanthropist, film producer, and author. He became the youngest national martial arts champion in Chinese history at twelve years old and went on to become one of the most internationally recognized Chinese film stars of all time, with roles in Shaolin Temple, Once Upon a Time in China, Fist of Legend, Hero, Fearless, Romeo Must Die, Lethal Weapon 4, The Expendables, and Disney's live-action Mulan.Beyond film, Jet has spent more than thirty years studying Buddhism and has devoted much of his life to philanthropy. After surviving the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami with his family, he founded One Foundation, a charitable organization focused on disaster relief, mental health, and grassroots giving. His new book is Beyond Life and Death: The Way of True Freedom.Follow Jet Li on Instagram | @jetli

Send me a messageWe quit on ourselves because we tied our confidence to the finish line. When the goal gets delayed, the confidence goes with it.If achievement is the only thing that makes us feel good, then 99% of our lives will feel like failure. The answer isn't smaller goals. It's moving where the good feeling comes from.Getting back up is the achievement. Real confidence comes from being willing to look like a fool in front of people who are better than us — the person who loves the practice passes the person with the talent, every time.Manifestation focuses the mind. It doesn't do the work.Success and failure are two sides of one coin. The only real failure is quitting.CHAPTERS0:00 Why a delayed goal feels devastating2:22 Why 99% of life feels like failing5:04 Why natural talent loses8:32 Smart risk and dumb risk12:23 Success is how fast you get back up15:07 The only way to fail is to quit16:00 Does prayer or manifestation work?18:57 There are no mistakes20:10 Why growth feels invisiblePlease enjoy other episodes where I share meditation techniques, tips and spiritual lessons from around the world for peaceful and stress-free living. Remember to subscribe to stay up-to-date.Video podcasts are available at https://www.youtube.com/@ToddPerelmuter#confidence #failure #motivation #presence #personalgrowthFor the days when life feels like too much, these 4 free books are for you. Get the free 4-books bundleIf my words have ever touched your heart or helped you through a hard moment, I'd be deeply grateful for your support in keeping this podcast alive. Support the PodcastAnd if you'd like to explore these ideas in greater depth, you can find all of my books here.

Celebrating Sylvia Boorstein's 90th birthday, Jack and Sylvia reflect on 49 years of friendship, meditation, and Dharma practice—and how awakening ultimately expresses itself through kindness, connection, and a willingness to stay amazed.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 week on Heart Wisdom, Jack Kornfield shares:Sylvia's journey through the Buddhist teachings of impermanence, suffering, and selflessness, and how intellectual understanding gradually becomes lived realizationJack and Sylvia's 49 years of friendship, from her early meditation and kundalini experiences to their travels, teaching, and shared life in the DharmaHow decades of mindfulness and metta practice made Sylvia not only kinder, but happier and more responsive to the needs of othersMeeting ourselves and one another with loving awareness, remembering our interconnectedness, and staying amazed by the mystery of being aliveThis episode was originally recorded for a special Spirit Rock Monday Night Meditation and Talk in July 2026 celebrating Sylvia Boorstein's 90th Birthday. Watch the next one at SpiritRock.orgAbout Sylvia Boorstein:Sylvia Boorstein, PhD, is a founding teacher of Spirit Rock Meditation Center and has taught Dharma and mindfulness since 1985. A psychologist, author, and gifted storyteller, she makes Buddhist teachings accessible by emphasizing that everyday life is mindfulness practice. Her work integrates meditation, kindness, engaged citizenship, and social activism. Learn more about Sylvia at SylviaBoorstein.com“We remind each other of our freedom and our possibility. We are so deeply interwoven in the energy field of consciousness itself, and when you know it, whatever you do becomes benevolent in some really deep way.”"The shortest way to say what happened to me in 49 years is: I became kind. Seymour said, ‘No, you were always kind.' And I said, ‘Well, then I became kinder.' And the big surprise for me after all this time is that I'm also happier.” – Sylvia BoorsteinAbout Jack Kornfield:Jack Kornfield, PhD trained as a Buddhist monk in Thailand, India, and Burma. He holds a Ph.D. in clinical psychology and is a founding teacher of the Insight Meditation Society in Massachusetts and Spirit Rock Meditation Center in California. He is one of the key teachers to introduce mindfulness practice to the West, has taught internationally since 1974, and is the author of 16 books which have sold 2 million copies.Stay connected with Jack and explore his latest offerings at JackKornfield.com.http://jackkornfield.com. Sign up for his free weekly email teachings, explore his transformational online courses, access his complete course library through the All Access Pass, or join his monthly livestreams and online community. Jack's latest book, All In This Together: Stories and Teachings for Loving Each Other and Our World is out now!“We remind each other of our freedom and our possibility. We are so deeply interwoven in the energy field of consciousness itself, and when you know it, whatever you do becomes benevolent in some really deep way.” –Jack KornfieldSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Download the Buddhability AppApple iOSAndroidSeongjae Choi, of Alabama, wondered “why me?” when his peers were landing jobs and he was being ghosted by potential employers. With a strict deadline for his visa, he was determined to land a job in time. Today he tells the story of how chanting Nam-myoho-renge-kyo gave him the ability to keep going and find meaning in his struggle.

Will AI take our jobs? Kill us? This episode provides both fact-checking and a psychological survival guide. Cal Newport is a Professor of Computer Science at Georgetown University, where he is also a founding faculty member of the Center for Digital Ethics and the inaugural Director of the Computer Science, Ethics and Society academic program. He is the New York Times bestselling author of eight books, including, most recently, Slow Productivity, A World Without Email, Digital Minimalism, and Deep Work. Newport is also a long-time contributing writer for the New Yorker and the host of the Deep Questions podcast. Matthew Brensilver, MSW, PhD teaches retreats at the Insight Retreat Center, Spirit Rock Meditation Center and Insight Meditation Society. Before committing to teach meditation full-time, he spent years doing research on addiction pharmacotherapy at the UCLA Center for Behavioral and Addiction Medicine. Each winter and summer, he offers a four-month online Buddhist Psychology Training through Spirit Rock integrating Buddhist wisdom with modern psychotherapy. Matthew is the co-author of two books about meditation during adolescence and continues to be interested in the unfolding dialogue between Buddhism and science. In this episode we talk about: What really happened when an AI agent hacked a company while running a test Why one Silicon Valley belief system may be fueling AI panic more than the tech itself Why senior programmers are quietly going back to writing code by hand Where Cal draws the line on using AI to help you write versus write for you Why Matthew worries AI could quietly replace the ordinary, unfinished parts of daily life Buddhist advice on being with this unprecedented moment How stabilizing your mind makes acceptance possible, and how to do it Why calming the sense of emergency doesn't erase uncertainty, but makes it easier to face 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:This episode is sponsored by: Tonal: Right now, Tonal is offering our listeners $200 off your Tonal purchase at tonal.com with promo code HAPPIER. To advertise on the show, contact sales@advertisecast.com or visit https://advertising.libsyn.com/10HappierwithDanHarris

This talk was given by Mikey Noechel during the Summer of Love Retreat in Sewanee, TN on July 15th-19th, 2026. Mikey offers the second afternoon instructions on compassion meditation. Enjoy! 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

Episode 0956 - Wisdom & Momentum on the Path (RA) (Click on the above link, or here for audio.) Commentary on Ra's comment in Session 77 (77.24) about the "momentum based upon the characteristics of wisdom when applied to circumstance." Love-wisdom balance in 7-chakra energy development and 7-density evolution; correlation with Buddhist first fruit Sotapanna, Lucy-film's 20% brain activation

On today's episode, Johnnette Williams is joined by Sue Brinkmann for Wacky Wednesday! They talk about how the Jericho March can be misinterpreted. Listeners call in asking about Buddhism and burying St. Joseph.

On today's episode, Johnnette Williams is joined by Sue Brinkmann for Wacky Wednesday! They talk about how the Jericho March can be misinterpreted. Listeners call in asking about Buddhism and burying St. Joseph.

For all that is admirable in Buddhism, Nietzsche fundamentally opposes the movement towards the Last Man that Buddhism not only cannot oppose, but may even help bring forth. Why does the notion of a "European Buddhism" haunt Nietzsche's later writings? We will explore this question here: how a religion that is realistic, empirical, and achieves great practical success in the relief of suffering isnevertheless inevitably aimed at uprooting all action and delivering man to a state of passivity. Here we find another religion of pity, and another denial of the world - merely deprived of the sensualism and moral fanaticism of Christianity. Were such a religion to take hold in the West, Nietzsche believes, the opportunity of moment, which we face as a consequence of the death of God, would be squandered. Join me in exploring more sutras, as well Nietzsche's criticisms of Buddhism in The Gay Science, Daybreak, Beyond Good and Evil, and the Will to Power.

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

Send us Fan MailWhat happens after the breakthrough?In the Season 4 premiere of Delightfully Dharmic, Keilani sits down with clinical psychologist, lecturer, and Integration Circle founder Dr. Ido Cohen for a fascinating conversation about psychedelic integration, Jungian psychology, mystical experiences, spirituality, and what it actually takes to create lasting transformation.Because having a profound experience and being transformed by that experience aren't necessarily the same thing.Ido shares his own journey from an intensely curious child drawn to psychology and spirituality, through Buddhism, India, Jung, ayahuasca, and eventually his work helping people navigate psychedelic and psychospiritual integration.Together, Keilani and Ido explore what happens when we return to ordinary life after extraordinary experiences, why community matters so deeply, and how quickly an insight can disappear when it collides with work, family, culture, fear, and our natural tendency to return to what is familiar.They also explore the numinous - those moments when something beyond our ordinary understanding seems to break through—and why those experiences don't have to happen on psychedelics to profoundly alter the way we understand ourselves.The conversation moves through psychedelic experiences, mystical encounters, Jungian thought, curiosity, professional identity, spirituality in therapy, cultural resistance, personal transformation, and the sometimes messy process of figuring out what an experience is actually asking of us.At the heart of the episode is one question:How do we take the experiences that crack us open and actually let them change the way we live?✨ Keep the conversation going with Delightfully Dharmic.  Join our community for deeper conversations, exclusive content, live gatherings & a little sacred mischief:

On this inspiring episode of the Authority On Demand Podcast (formerly Authors On Mission Podcast), host Danielle Hutchinson sits down with Catia Batalha, author of Echoes of the Timeless, for a thought-provoking conversation about spiritual awakening, creativity, intuition, and the search for deeper purpose.Catia opens up about how her own journey from disconnection and uncertainty to meaning and spiritual growth became the inspiration for Echoes of the Timeless. She explains how yoga, Buddhism, and Māori wisdom shaped her understanding of healing, connection, and the powerful shifts that can happen when we move from fear toward peace.She also shares the remarkable story behind her writing process: after a back injury forced her into stillness, Catia created the space for her creativity to flow—and wrote the novel in just one month.In this episode, you'll discover:✨ Why spiritual awakening can become a catalyst for personal transformation✨ How stillness and space can unlock creativity and unexpected breakthroughs✨ Why fear and anxiety can prevent us from accessing our creative potential✨ How to balance structure with intuition when developing your ideas✨ The role of nature, community, and connection in personal healing✨ How Catia transformed her life experiences and spiritual insights into meaningful fictionCatia's story is a powerful reminder that creativity isn't always about forcing yourself to produce. Sometimes, the most meaningful ideas emerge when you slow down, listen inward, and create space for inspiration to find you.Connect with Catia Batalha:Website: https://catiabatalha.org/Book page: https://catiabatalha.org/echoes-of-the-timeless/FB: https://www.facebook.com/author.catiabatalhaIS: https://www.instagram.com/author.catiabatalhaTK: https://www.tiktok.com/@author.catiabatalhaYT: https://www.youtube.com/@author.catiabatalha

Patreon: www.patreon.com/dopeypodcast save $15 on Dopey con tix Dopeycon Tickets: https://buytickets.at/thedopeyfoundation/2216905 Summary:  Episode summary Dave checks in from California with Jeremy for a conversation about modern weed, absurdly powerful dispensary products, Jeremy's torn Achilles, the Knicks championship and Dave's potentially revolutionary Katz's “Karubin.” Then Dopey replays Episode 43 with author and Refuge Recovery founder Noah Levine. Noah talks about growing up around Buddhism, trauma and drugs; taking mushrooms at ten; becoming addicted as a teenager; attempting suicide in juvenile hall; and discovering meditation while locked inside a padded cell. Chris wrestles with psychedelics in sobriety, prepares for a ten-day silent meditation retreat and asks whether it's possible to mindfully shoot heroin. Noah also delivers an all-time Dopey story involving cocaine, stolen Rolexes, a brakeless car, an e-brake turn in the rain and a burning getaway vehicle. Afterward, Dave and Chris discuss fallen spiritual teachers, sex, hypocrisy and abusing positions of power. They finish with a listener's insane story about introducing a Chinese exchange student to the “American tradition” of buying heroin—and accidentally abandoning him at Outback Steakhouse. AND MORE!!!!! Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Days after narrowly surviving a catastrophic flood, meditation teacher Delson Armstrong joins Michael Taft to consider what remains when spiritual ideas fall away. Their conversation explores primal awareness, the spiritual ego, and Delson's forthcoming collection of Sanskrit aphorisms—a “love letter to the exhausted seeker” synthesizing Buddhism, Vedānta, Yoga, Sāṃkhya, and Tantra. They also discuss paraconsciousness, karma and divine play, Nisargadatta Maharaj, Śrī Vidyā and Lalitā, and the challenge of teaching with authority without taking the role of guru too seriously.Delson Armstrong is a meditation teacher whose work brings together Buddhist, yogic, and tantric traditions. A teacher of Tranquil Wisdom Insight Meditation, he is known especially for his expertise in the jhānas and other deep meditative states. He is also authorized to teach all seven stages of Lahiri Mahasaya's Kriya Yoga and practices in the Śrī Vidyā and Trika lineages. Delson teaches internationally, offering retreats, workshops, and individual guidance focused on awakening, freedom from suffering, and translating ancient contemplative methods for modern practitioners.Learn more about Delson Armstrong here.You can support the creation of future episodes of this podcast by contributing through Patreon.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

This talk was given by Sean Coyle at Wild Heart Meditation Center in Nashville, TN.  Spiritual bypassing looks like peace — but sometimes it's just avoidance in a softer outfit. This is your reminder that mindfulness isn't meant to numb you; it's meant to help you see clearly and act with care.  Enjoy!   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

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

What topic interests you? Leave me a voicemail. A meaningful life may be built on a quieter, more teachable state called the High Plateau Experience. This episode will address transcendence, including spirituality, psychology, meditation, and simply living with more awe and purpose.  Dr. Alexandra unpacks Abraham Maslow's original ideas about peak experiences, then moves into the lesser-known concept he explored near the end of his life - a more constant, serene way of perceiving the world as miraculous. Along the way, she shares the story of Maslow's own nighttime “peak experience,” the paper he chose not to present, and the profound shift in perspective that came after his confrontation with mortality.You'll discover:Why Maslow believed peak experiences are real, but shouldn't be pursued like a thrill rideHow self-transcendence in Paul Wong's model includes beauty, present-moment awareness, and service to othersWhat Maslow meant by “witnessing the world” and why he said we could “hold classes in the miraculous”The difference between a climactic peak experience and the steadier High Plateau ExperienceWhy joy, sadness, awe, and mortality can all coexist in the same momentHow meditation, spiritual practice, and meditative listening are linked to less anxiety, more meaning, and greater connectednessDr. Alexandra also brings in research and modern evidence, including studies on Lectio Divina, Dan Tomasulo's work (https://dantomasulo.com), and a 2021 Frontiers in Psychology paper on self-transcendence and adolescent mental health.  The result is a thoughtful, practical episode that connects Maslow's theory to real-life practices you can actually use. This is essential listening for those seeking grounded transcendence that doesn't depend on chasing extraordinary moments, but on learning how to live with openness, wonder, and purpose in ordinary life.Timestamps00:00 - This episode is dedicated to internationalforgiveness.com and Maslow's higher love 00:32 - What the high plateau experience is and how it differs from peak experiences 01:27 - Peak experiences as unforced moments of human transcendence 02:24 - Maslow's own peak experience before his memorial lecture 03:21 - Why Maslow chose the academic paper instead of his personal experience 03:50 - The impact of peak experiences on self-acceptance and openness 04:56 - Why Maslow warned against chasing peak experiences for their own sake 05:26 - The bodhisattva ideal and helping others after awakening 06:20 - Paul Wong's three levels of self-transcendence 07:12 - How Dr. Stanley Krippner helped preserve Maslow's final talk 08:47 - Maslow's shift into a more constant, mythic way of seeing 09:44 - Why the high plateau was more voluntary and teachable 10:49 - The plateau as witnessing the symbolic and miraculous in ordinary life 12:14 - Maslow's Brandeis vision of an eternal academic procession 13:54 - How the plateau compresses time, memory, and meaning 15:20 - The paradox of permanence, mortality, joy, and sadness 16:28 - Why we do not need to wait for peak experiences to live meaningfully 17:27 - Research on meditative listening, meaning, and well-being 18:34 - Dr. Dan Tomasulo's insights on spiritual practice and brain quieting 19:38 - Lisa Miller's MRI research on the spiritual brain 20:15 - A 2021 study on self-transcendence and adolescent mental health 21:40 - Closing reflections Notable quotes“Achieving the mystic's sense of cosmic unity can be tremendously uplifting, but such a state must always be balanced by action in the daily world.”Support the showThis show was created with love.  The following are seven ways you can support and encourage my efforts to create new content, from easiest to hardest: Press “follow” on the podcastPress “follow” on YouTube @alexandramillerclarkShare a helpful podcast episode with a friend Share a helpful YouTube episode with a friendLeave the podcast a rating on iTunesLeave the YouTube a rating on iTunesBuy me a coffee:  buymeacoffee.com/dralexandra

Send me a messageMost of us spend our lives replaying the painful parts and calling it realism. That habit is a large part of why so many of us feel numb — and this is how the feeling comes back.Four of my books, free — link below.A photographer can walk into a junkyard and come out with something people pay real money to hang on a wall. A photograph of a broken-down car. The beauty was already there. The eye was the thing that had to be trained. We can all train that eye.Most of us live in our worries, our fears, our stress, our traumatic past. It is equally natural and equally true to spend that time on the good memories, the pleasures, the people we are grateful for. The word ignorance is the right one, because we are ignoring more than half of what is happening.There is no wisdom in overthinking what already happened or what might. There is only wisdom in what we do with this moment.Numbness isn't the absence of sensation. It's the loss of the ability to notice subtlety. When we stop feeling the small things, we start needing the extreme ones — and that is where craving, adrenaline and addiction begin.We are present for the first bite of a meal, maybe the second, and then we stop tasting. The same is true of a sunset, a cup of tea, a conversation. When we stay with the whole experience instead of a slice of it, we stop needing more of it. That is what equanimity means — a steady peace that doesn't depend on which sensation shows up next.And when we hold a magnifying glass over our worries and never over our blessings, our view of our own life becomes distorted. We end up making negative propaganda about ourselves.We are the camera. What we point it at is a choice, and it can be changed at any moment.CHAPTERS0:00 The photographer in the junkyard0:22 Why we live in the painful part0:58 The other half we never visit2:05 Ignorance means ignoring2:55 We lose presence to pleasure too4:05 What numbness actually is4:33 Why we start needing the extreme5:00 Savoring every bite6:36 The magnifying glass8:56 We are the camera operator9:40 Negative propaganda about ourselves10:37 In pain there is pleasure11:19 Nothing outside us holds the meaning13:18 Equanimity, the steady kind of happiness15:13 Why unhappiness spikes with inequality18:28 What kind of movie do you want to live inPlease enjoy other episodes where I share meditation techniques, tips and spiritual lessons from around the world for peaceful and stress-free living. Remember to subscribe to stay up-to-date.Video podcasts are available at https://www.youtube.com/@ToddPerelmuter#mindfulness #presence #gratitude #equanimity #spiritualawakeningFor the days when life feels like too much, these 4 free books are for you. Get the free 4-books bundleIf my words have ever touched your heart or helped you through a hard moment, I'd be deeply grateful for your support in keeping this podcast alive. Support the PodcastAnd if you'd like to explore these ideas in greater depth, you can find all of my books here.

Download the Buddhability AppApple iOSAndroidSierra Canyon Alumna Spencer Parham, of Utah, was hit with a problem that almost derailed his D1 college aspirations. Today he shares his experience how chanting Nam-myoho-renge-kyo helped him excel as a busy student athlete. Watch this episode on YouTube.Book mentioned:A Youthful DiaryDownload the Buddhability App Apple iOSAndroid

After two years since his last podcast, Champ shares his story of returning back to California to be with his mother during her passing, and the Buddhist dharma methods he learned from masters that allowed him to see all things in peace and equanimity. If you enjoyed this show, please show support by visiting GreatAwakeningMap.co and purchasing Champ's posters and t-shirts or make a donation. Thank you for your love and support. Instagram @DzogchenYogi @5D_Awakening_Consciousness PayPal: greatawakeningmap@gmail.comGreat Awakening Map, Buddhism, Dharma, Dzogchen, Mahamudra, Meditation, Nondual Mind, Enlightenment, Consciousness, Metaphysics, David Wilcock, Dark Night of the Soul, Cancer, UFO, Rainbow Body of Light, Happiness, Joy, Peace

Alan Watts reveals the harmony of embracing our human role while also recognizing that we are the entire cosmos.Today's episode is brought to you by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at betterhelp.com/alan and get on your way to being your best self.This time on the Being in the Way podcast, Alan Watts discusses:Remembering our inherent oneness with all thingsLiving on two levels at once: the relative world and the ultimate realityUnderstanding life as a “controlled accident” and learning to play our social roles on demandPretending not to notice the fundamental light of existence Seeing life's most serious predicaments as part of a cosmic gameRecognizing how our fascination with details can cause us to lose sight of the bigger pictureEngaging fully in the game of life while recognizing our true natureThis series is brought to you by the Alan Watts Organization and Ram Dass' Love Serve Remember Foundation. Visit Alanwatts.org for full talks from Alan Watts."Deep down, who are you? That's the thing that's been forgotten. That's the underside of the tapestry, the thing that's been left out because what we are carefully taught to ignore is that every one of us, fundamentally, deep, deep inside, is an act of, function of, performance of, manifestation of the works, the whole blinking cosmos with all its galaxies.” –Alan WattsSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Intuitive Medicine is all about what your body is trying to tell you. When you experience discomfort, fatigue, tension, pain or other symptoms, what if those sensations are giving you clues about what is happening emotionally and energetically in your body and life? That’s the fascinating perspective explored in this episode with Medical Intuitive Christine Lang. We talked about medical intuition, energy, stress, overwhelm, grounding, protecting yourself from other people’s energy, and learning to listen more closely to your own inner wisdom. Get Christine’s Free Gift –  a special meditation to learn how to understand the messages from your body. How Christine Got into Intuitive Medicine Christine’s path into medical intuitive wasn’t something she planned. She began her career as an attorney, but during law school she developed severe allergies that continued after graduation and worsened while she working in the corporate world. Eventually, Christine discovered that stress was much of the cause of her body's discomfort. That realization led her to explore learning that was very different from her legal career, including homeopathy, Tai Chi, yoga, meditation, and Buddhism. Taking Reiki opened another door. During her meditation before working with a Reiki client, Christine began receiving words and phrases that connected to the people she was working work with. At first, she wasn’t sure what to make of it. Then she took a chance and shared one of these impressions with a client, who responded positively. That experience made Christine realize that a new intuitive skill was developing. Christine studied intensely, eventually spending several hours a day developing those abilities. Over time, she worked with clients as a medical intuitive and finally left her legal career, now more than two decades ago. What Does a Medical Intuitive Actually Do? This is interesting –  Christine shared  that she sees herself as a translator. Rather than focusing on where a person hurts, she looks for the story surrounding the symptom and asks what might have been going on when it first appeared. Her questions for her intuition and then the client include: When did the symptom begin? What was happening at the time? What might the body be trying to bring to their attention? Christine described this as looking for the origin point where stress or an unresolved experience may have begun affecting the body. The goal isn’t just to make a symptom disappear, but to better understand what may be underneath it. Of course, that doesn’t mean every illness has an emotional cause. Our bodies are complicated, and physical symptoms deserve appropriate medical attention. Yet, there can also be value in becoming curious about what else may be happening alongside the physical symptom. Your Body Can Give You Information Your body and mind are very connected even though you might think of them separately. However, your body is constantly responding to your environment, your emotions, your relationships, your thoughts, and your stress levels. You may notice your stomach tighten when you’re around a certain person, or your shoulders tense when you’re under pressure. You feel exhausted after spending time with someone who is emotionally demanding, or suddenly feel lighter after making a decision that feels right. These experiences don’t provide a medical diagnosis, but they can provide important insights. Learning to notice the signals is one way of becoming more connected to your body and aware of what it may be communicating. Why You Might Feel Scattered Or Overwhelmed Christine and I also talked about why so many people feel overwhelmed. Think about how often your attention is divided throughout the day. You’re thinking about work, checking your phone, answering messages, worrying about someone you love, remembering what you forgot to do, and planning what’s next. Your body may be sitting in one place while your attention is everywhere else. Christine’s approach is to bring your energy back toward the center of your body and become more contained rather than scattered. While Christine suggests calling back all of your energy to heighten your intuition, I expand my energy outward to connect with spirit, my guides, ancestors, and higher wisdom. Even though our techniques are different, we both arrive at a similar place, to escape the constant mental clutter and make space for intuitive information. There isn’t one right way to work with your intuition, so the important thing is discovering what works for you. Try Grounding To Center When you’re overwhelmed, grounding can help bring you back into the present moment. Christine noted that instead of allowing yourself to be pulled into everything happening around you, reconnect with your body and the earth. Going outside can be remarkably helpful. Walk through your yard, work in the garden, sit under a tree, or spend a few minutes paying attention to what’s around you. You don’t need an elaborate ritual or a complicated practice. Sometimes five or ten minutes of being outside and reconnecting with the physical world is enough to help you feel calmer and more centered. Protect Yourself From Other People’s Energy Most everyone has been affected by someone else's bad mood. You walk into a room where people are stressed and suddenly, you’re stressed too. You talk with an angry person and find yourself feeling that anger too after the conversation ends. If someone is anxious, you might pick that up as well. Christine uses visualization to create a strong energetic boundary. One simple technique is to imagine a sheet of glass between yourself and another person, where you can still see, hear, communicate, and be fully present with her, without taking on everything she's experiencing. You can also imagine yourself surrounded by a protective bubble and use this before entering emotionally charged places like hospitals, government offices, crowded places, or even a difficult conversation. The goal isn’t to shut yourself off from other people, but remember that their energy belongs to them. Learn to Listen Differently It's good to remember that intuition can be a subtle sensation. Maybe a word pops into your mind, you sense a feeling in your stomach, or have a sudden awareness that something isn’t right. You might even have a sense of relief when you finally make a decision. These signals don’t tell you what to do, but can give you insights to consider. Medical intuition offers one fascinating way of exploring those signals and becoming more curious about the relationship between your body, your emotions, and your inner knowing. You don’t have to accept every sensation as a message, and you certainly don’t need to abandon medical care. Instead, you can become more observant and curious about what your body is telling you. Your body is communicating with you all the time, and the real question is – are you listening? Key Takeaways Your body may offer clues about what’s happening emotionally and energetically in your life. Becoming curious about sensations such as tension, fatigue, or discomfort can help you notice patterns. Medical intuition explores the story behind a symptom. Christine Lang looks at when a symptom began and what was happening in a person’s life at that time. Grounding can help when you feel scattered or overwhelmed. Spending time outside and reconnecting with your body can bring your attention back to the present moment. Intuition can be subtle. A physical sensation, feeling, word, or sudden awareness may be worth noticing as you develop a deeper relationship with your inner knowing. BIO – Christine Lang Christine Lang is a former attorney who became a medical intuitive. She has a special gift to see people's energy and have conversations with their spirits! As a translator for each person's spirit, Christine helps clients receive clarity on how their stressors resulted in the life they are currently living. In her lectures, podcast interviews, and guest expert appearances, Christine shares the vast wisdom she has learned from the spirit world. Christine, the author of The Body Whisperer, has a new book due to release in 2024. In it, she explains in detail how to communicate with your spirit. Website & Social Media Website: https://ChristineLang.org Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/christine.lang.org/ Instragram: https://www.instagram.com/christinelang_intuitive/  YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCDYHoZnCSKVLfl9xk_20A7w FAQs What is intuitive medicine? Intuitive medicine is an intuitive practice that explores information about the body, symptoms, emotions, and energetic patterns. A medical intuitive uses intuition to help a person reflect on possible connections between their physical experiences and what is happening in their life. It should not replace diagnosis or treatment from a qualified medical professional. Can intuitive medicine diagnose illness? No. Intuitive medicine should not be used as a substitute for medical diagnosis, testing, or treatment. Please seek appropriate medical care first. How can I tell if I’m picking up someone else’s energy?You may notice a sudden shift in your mood, energy, or physical sensations after spending time with someone who is stressed, angry, or anxious. Becoming aware of these changes can help you recognize how interactions affect you. How can I become more aware of my intuition?Start by noticing subtle sensations, feelings, thoughts, or sudden insights without immediately dismissing them. Over time, you may become more familiar with the ways your intuition communicates with you. Why does grounding help when I’m overwhelmed? Grounding redirects your attention away from racing thoughts and toward your body and your immediate surroundings. Walking, gardening, sitting outside, breathing slowly, or simply noticing what you can see and hear can help you reconnect with the present moment. The post Intuitive Medicine – Your Body’s Wisdom Is Telling You Something appeared first on Intuitive Edge.

The Buddha taught a path of awakened living, but how does that manifest in today's world of constant connectivity and widespread suffering? How do we keep our hearts open without being defined or hardened by the pain that surrounds us, whether personal, collective, or historical? How do we navigate the paradox of holding both pain and joy, without mistaking suffering for punishment or personal failure? Can we infuse our compassion with wisdom and perspective to find the agency to take meaningful action in our communities? In her new series, Engaged Compassion, Sharon delves into these questions and more, engaging in candid conversations with a diverse group of teachers, activists, and changemakers. For the ninth and final episode in the series, Sharon speaks with Shelly Tygielski. Philanthropist and social activist Shelly Tygielski has been hailed by individuals ranging from President Joe Biden to Arianna Huffington and Dr. Jon Kabat-Zinn to Maria Shriver. She is the founder of the global, grassroots mutual aid organization, Pandemic of Love and the co-founder of Partners in Kind, a purpose in production equity fund that invests in projects that focus on social impact in entertainment. Her work has been featured in over 100 media outlets, including CNN Heroes, The Kelly Clarkson Show, CBS This Morning, The New York Times, and The Washington Post. A Garrison Institute Fellow, Shelly has been called one of the “12 Powerful Women of the Mindfulness Movement” by Mindful.org and teaches self-care and resilience at organizations and to audiences around the world. She is also the author of several books, “Sit Down to Rise Up” and “How We Ended Racism.” This is her second appearance on the Metta Hour Podcast.In this conversation, Shelly and Sharon speak about:• What motivated Shelly to get her PH.D.• The definition of Mutual Aid • Mutual Aid across history• Peter Kropotkin's view of society • Cooperation vs competition in society• Thriving interspecies ecosystems • How Shelly's practice has evolved over time• Finding a balance in our compassion• Prioritizing self-care in engaged compassion• How Shelly has let go of her caregiving guilt• The signs that burnout is lurking• Seeing resentment as a signal flare• Shelly's advice to change-makers• Activism with our own sustainability in mind• Asking for help before falling into burnout• Joy is not an abandonment of responsibility • How Shelly finds joy in nature and with musicAdditional ResourcesThe episode closes with Shelly leading a lovingkindness meditation. Learn more about Shelly's work and her different books right here. Learn more about Pandemic of Love right here.Related Metta Hour EpisodesEpisode 121: Shelly's first appearance on the Metta Hour, released in 2020.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

This talk was given by Andrew Chapman during the Summer of Love Retreat in Sewanee, TN on July 15th-19th, 2026. Andrew offers the second morning instructions on feeling tone meditation. Enjoy!  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

Welcome to the first episode of the re-launch of my podcast, now called "Turning" (although still under an Everyday Buddhism subhead). In this first episode, "Why Turning" I explain a bit about how "Everyday Buddhism" shifted into "Turning." I'm still Wendy Haylett and I'm still talking to you about Buddhism, but also about a personal transformation in my spiritual journey. You'll hear what can happen if you "keep going", a mantra from my teacher, Rev. Koyo Kubose that you've heard me talk about many times in this podcast. You'll hear what happens when you allow yourself to sit in the the questions and to live in the mystery and gradual revelation of what life is. All of this is part of journey I find myself on. I invite you to come along and explore with me as I take the first steps into my new transformed reality while looking back to see how I got here. I hope you join me on this road and explore the turning with me.   Check out my Substack for the posts from the serial book, Living Life As It Is and the podcast, Words From My Teachers: https://wendyshinyohaylett.substack.com/     If this podcast has helped you understand Buddhism or help in your everyday life, consider making a one-time donation here: https://donorbox.org/donate-keep-the-content-fresh-and-inspired   DONATE QR CODE:   Support the podcast through the affiliate link to buy the book, Everyday Buddhism: Real-Life Buddhist Teachings & Practices for Real Change: Buy the book, Everyday Buddhism

Welcome back to The Nietzsche Podcast, Season Seven! We're beginning with a two-part episode concerning Nietzsche's view of Buddhism. This episode, we will consider some of the basic teachings of Buddhism, and explore why Nietzsche viewed Buddhism with admiration. A repeated refrain in The Antichrist concerns Buddhism's superiority over Christianity. Why is it that Nietzsche considered Buddhism, a religion with a complex metaphysics and cosmology, to be a far more realistic and logical religion than Christianity? We are pointed in the direction of an answer in Nietzsche's description of Buddhism as "the religion of self-redemption".The following episode will concern Nietzsche's criticisms of Buddhism.

He was a lifelong atheist who became a committed anti-theist. Today, he preaches Jesus and leads worship—because Jesus actually spoke to him.James Leonard wanted nothing to do with Christianity. His search for truth eventually took him through Buddhism, meditation, New Age spirituality, tarot cards, channeling, and nearly an ayahuasca retreat.Then, during a 10-day silent meditation retreat, James experienced something he couldn't explain away—a thought entered his mind that he knew wasn't his own. He didn't know it was Jesus.Over the next year, James began encountering Jesus in unexpected ways until one night, after days of wrestling with what he was discovering, he finally said yes.Today, the man who once proudly identified himself as an anti-theist teaches the Bible, preaches Jesus, and leads Christian worship.

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

Drawing on the eleventh-century yogini Machig Labdron's uncompromising slogans—confess your hidden faults, approach what repels you, help those you think you cannot help—this talk explores how genuine spiritual growth requires more than acceptance.  ★ Support this podcast ★

Frank Jude Boccio, host of Pobsa's Dharma Lounge Podcast, returns again to talk with J about ethical foundations in Buddhism and naturalistic explanations for the origins of evil. They discuss the evolution of their conversations over the years, language models and biology, mindfulness education, causes and conditions, relational practice, right livelihood, the Buddha's manhood, criticizing nondualism, awakening, going to refuge, and understanding the conditioned responses that keep us from being intimately present.   Teacher Training Early Registration Discount 50% off until Sept 1 - REGISTER NOW! To subscribe and support the show… GET PREMIUM.      

This talk explores the inner critic as a habitual pattern of thought, emotion, and body sensation—not a fixed truth- as well as offering practices of self-compassion. ★ Support this podcast ★

Drawing from an annual outdoor meditation retreat , this talk explores how sitting in silence among deer, mosquitoes, and fallen apples can reveal our inseparability from the natural world ★ Support this podcast ★

This talk is a teaching on the ageless, ever-present awareness beneath our changing thoughts and circumstances. Drawing on the Mangala Sutta, this talk explores how recognizing (not manufacturing) this ground allows the mind to remain unshaken "beyond all sorrow." ★ Support this podcast ★

Episode #590: Chie Ikeya's work on colonial Burma began almost by accident. Trained as a historian and originally planning to study the Japanese occupation, she found herself in Yangon waiting for archival access that never came. In the meantime, she read Burmese newspapers and periodicals from the early twentieth century, where the notion of the “modern woman” appeared again and again as a source of fascination, fear, hope, and moral panic. Her later work, Refiguring Women, Colonialism, and Modernity in Burma, follows that figure through education, print culture, nationalism, consumer desire, sexuality, Buddhism, and race. In colonial Burma, women's education expanded sharply, especially through missionary schools, and opened paths into medicine, law, teaching, journalism, and public life. Yet those openings also made women symbolic terrain. Their clothing, schooling, work, marriages, sexuality, and public presence became ways for others to debate whether Burma was becoming modern, losing itself, resisting colonialism, or protecting the nation. Ikeya complicates the familiar claim that Burmese women traditionally enjoyed high status. Certain legal rights around property and marriage were real, but rights on paper did not erase domestic violence, social control, class inequality, or the difficulty of forcing law into practice. The claim that Burmese women needed no feminism also carried political force: it could defend Burma against colonial arguments for “uplift,” while feeding a wider ideology of Burmese Buddhist exceptionalism. That ideology later shaped debates over intermarriage, religious belonging, anti-Muslim politics, and the boundaries of the nation. Ikeya does not treat exclusion as only state propaganda. It is diffuse, historical, and embedded in ordinary assumptions about who belongs, who does not, and whose presence must be regulated. Yet she also refuses to make violence the whole record. “Burma has not always been like this,” she says. Alongside histories of estrangement, she asks historians to recover the quieter histories of affection, belonging, and difficult intimacy that rarely survive in the archive.

Is there really only ONE way to God, or are all religions just different paths to the same place?

Send me a messageIt's easy to get stuck in a loop of negative thinking. Overthinking, complaining, replaying old pain. Some of us live there for years. This is the simplest gratitude practice I know for getting out.Think of one thing you love. A person, an object, anything at all. Then ask what made it. And then what made that. Keep going, and gratitude stops being something we have to search for. It becomes impossible to avoid.That one question opens into everything else here — presence, impermanence, the oneness of all things, and what the traditions call enlightenment, which is nothing more mysterious than an awareness wide enough to see how it all connects.Nothing is created, nothing is destroyed, everything is recycled, rising and falling. And nothing we truly love is ever lost.If you've been looking for a way to stop overthinking, quiet a critical mind, or just find one thing to be grateful for on a hard day, start at the beginning and go slowly.CHAPTERS0:00 The loop we get stuck in0:57 Start with one favorite thing1:38 Now ask what made them2:41 Infinite things made everything3:38 Gratitude with nothing left out5:36 Where did all of it come from7:01 There is no past and no future8:19 There is no future happiness9:13 Life is like waiting for test results9:51 The breath is the doorway11:00 Choosing where we rest our attention12:03 Expanded awareness15:42 The fight on the sidewalk and the view from space16:18 We are not one small life17:07 How consciousness rises19:20 The practice20:02 This is enlightenmentPlease enjoy other episodes where I share meditation techniques, tips and spiritual lessons from around the world for peaceful and stress-free living. Remember to subscribe to stay up-to-date.Video podcasts are available at https://www.youtube.com/@ToddPerelmuter#gratitude #meditation #spiritualawakening #mindfulness #onenessFor the days when life feels like too much, these 4 free books are for you. Get the free 4-books bundleIf my words have ever touched your heart or helped you through a hard moment, I'd be deeply grateful for your support in keeping this podcast alive. Support the PodcastAnd if you'd like to explore these ideas in greater depth, you can find all of my books here.

Japan has a reputation for being incredibly safe, but what does “safe” actually mean? The Krewe is joined by Jordan Green, aka AfroInJapan from YouTube & Instagram, to explore safety in Japan beyond just crime, including natural disasters, wildlife, xenophobia, & the considerations travelers & foreign residents should keep in mind. Does Japan live up to it's rep? You be the judge! ------ About the Krewe ------ The Krewe of Japan Podcast is a weekly episodic podcast sponsored by the Japan Society of New Orleans. Check them out every Friday afternoon around noon CST on Apple, Google, Spotify, Amazon, Stitcher, or wherever you get your podcasts.  Want to share your experiences with the Krewe? Or perhaps you have ideas for episodes, feedback, comments, or questions? Let the Krewe know by e-mail at kreweofjapanpodcast@gmail.com or on social media (Twitter: @kreweofjapan, Instagram: @kreweofjapanpodcast, Facebook: Krewe of Japan Podcast Page, TikTok: @kreweofjapanpodcast, LinkedIn: Krewe of Japan LinkedIn Page, Blue Sky Social: @kreweofjapan.bsky.social, & the Krewe of Japan Youtube Channel). Until next time, enjoy! ------ Support the Krewe! Offer Links for Affiliates ------ Use the referral links below & our promo code from the episode! Support your favorite NFL Team AND podcast! Shop NFLShop to gear up for football season! Zencastr Offer Link - Use my special link to save 30% off your 1st month of any Zencastr paid plan!  ------ Links for Jordan Green/AfroInJapan ------ AfroInJapan on YouTube AfroInJapan on Instagram AfroInJapan's "The Myth of Crime in Japan" ------ JSNO Upcoming Events ------ JSNO Event Calendar Join JSNO Today!

Download the Buddhability AppApple iOSAndroidBuddhability Shorts is a monthly series where we break down a Buddhist concept or common life challenge we've touched on in an interview. Today we're talking about money and our relationship to it. To ask a question about the basics of Buddhism, you can email us at connect@buddhability.org Resources:Becoming People of True WealthThe Wisdom for Creating Happiness and Peace, part 2, p.40.Interview with ShermanDownload the Buddhability App Apple iOSAndroid

Exploring the gifts hidden within our most difficult emotions, Jack Kornfield shares how anger, judgment, and despair can be transformed into compassion, courage, and selfless service.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 week on Heart Wisdom, Jack Kornfield shares:The path of selfless serviceA meditation on kindness and loving awarenessMeeting anger without judgment or fearThe care and passion hidden beneath angerMoving from despair toward imagination and possibilityActivism rooted in stillness, wellbeing, and loveMoral beauty and compassionate courageTransforming judgment into tenderness and metta“Do you know why you're so angry? Because you care. Because you care that much. And when you start to tune into the fact that you do care, that's the fuel.” –Jack KornfieldThis teaching was originally recorded during a live session for Jack's Living the Dharma in a Troubled World yearlong program. Join these monthly livestream Q&A sessions here. As a special offer for Heart Wisdom listeners, use code Dharma10 or Dharma10p (payment plan) at checkout for 10% off this program.About 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.“We're learning how to be free as human beings—not to skip over being human, but actually to have a big enough heart to say, ‘Yes, this is part of our legacy.'” –Jack KornfieldSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Why does God allow difficult seasons? When life feels uncertain, painful, or unfair, it can be easy to question God’s character and wonder if our struggles are a result of something we did wrong. But Scripture reveals a different truth: God’s heart toward us is rooted in love, grace, and mercy—not punishment or condemnation. Vivian Bricker explores how knowing who God is helps us navigate suffering, uncertainty, and the lies we often believe about God’s intentions. Through Scripture, we are reminded that God’s love does not change based on our circumstances, and that hardship is not proof of God’s rejection or displeasure. Highlights: Why the unknown can make us question God’s goodness and control Understanding the difference between biblical truth and the idea of karma Why suffering is not always a reflection of God’s punishment How the New Covenant through Jesus changes our understanding of blessings and curses The importance of knowing God’s character so we can recognize false beliefs How God’s love remains constant even during difficult seasons Want more encouragement throughout your week? Subscribe to The Good Word, LifeAudio’s free weekly newsletter. Sign up at LifeAudio.com/thegoodword Join the conversation: How can a deeper understanding of God’s character change the way you view hardship? Continue the conversation with the Crosswalk community here: https://forums.crosswalk.com/ Do you want to listen ad-free? When you join Crosswalk Plus, you gain access to exclusive, in-depth Bible study guides, devotionals, sound biblical advice, and daily encouragement from trusted pastors and authors—resources designed to strengthen your faith and equip you to live it out boldly. PLUS ad free podcasts! Sign Up Today! Full Transcript Below: Understanding God’s CharacterBy Vivian Bricker Bible Reading:“This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins” (1 John 4:10). In my opinion, the scariest thing in the world is the unknown. Whether that be an undiagnosed illness, starting over in a new city, or thinking about the future, the unknown can be terrifying. None of us can truly know what is ahead because we are not the ones in control. For some of us, there will be good times ahead and for others, there will be hard times. One cannot be dogmatic and say that those who have good times are in the will of God and those who are going through tough times are not. It is never within God’s will for us to be in pain, to be depressed, or to be sick. He never intended for us to go through any of these things, and it is not right for people to believe in the ideology that if you do good, good returns to you from God and if you do bad, bad returns to you from God. This is not biblical as this is actually a belief in karma. Karma is part of the religious beliefs contained within Hinduism and Buddhism. Although karma has become popularized within mainstream media, Christ followers do not need to endorse it. Karma is refuted in the Bible as Psalm 103:10-11 says, “he does not treat us as our sins deserve or repay us according to our iniquities.” Therefore, we don’t need to say that God blesses certain people while cursing others. The aspects of blessings and curses based on your actions were true within the Mosaic Covenant, but it is not true for us today. We are under the New Covenant by the blood of Jesus (Luke 22:20). Within the Mosaic Covenant, Israel was petitioned to obey God, and blessings would come to them; however, if they did not obey God and did evil, curses would come into their midst. Since we are not under the Mosaic Covenant, we don’t need to hold ourselves or others to this type of thinking. If we are having dreadful things happening in our lives, they are not caused by God. And if we are having good things happening in our lives, we cannot always be dogmatic to say it is caused by God either. To say that “God has blessed me because I’m doing well, but He has cursed you because you are not doing well” is not rooted in biblical truth. This is why Christians need to be more aware and not to flaunt things they believe are blessings. This only gives the idea that if you are struggling, you have done something terrible in the eyes of God, and you must be cursed. As Christ followers, this type of thinking needs to end. We all have free will, and with it, we have chosen to do terrible things (Romans 3:23). Additionally, we live in a fallen world that is covered in sin. This is why we shouldn’t be quick to say, “It is God’s will for you to suffer from (fill in the blank).” God never intended for evil, sin, or death to be in the world. He wanted us to live in perfect harmony with Him in the Garden of Eden. Intersecting Faith & Life: The Bible tells us, “This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins” (1 John 4:10). God’s character is found in love. Since God is love, why do we believe the lie that He brings curses into our lives or into the lives of others? This goes against His very nature. God is love, and He is not going to bring harm into our lives. As Christ followers, we need to be aware of who God is and His characteristics, as this can help us weed out lies that pull us away from Him. Even well-meaning Christ followers can say unhelpful and unbiblical things, which is why we must be level-headed and fully understand the Bible ourselves. Regardless of what you are going through, remember the truth that God is love, and you are loved by Him, and neither of these things will ever change. Have you ever thought a terrible thing happening in your life was due to God punishing you? What made you think like this? How can having a proper view of God’s character help you understand Him better? Further Reading: Romans 5:8 1 John 3:1 1 John 4:19 Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

This talk was given by Mikey Noechel during the Summer of Love Retreat in Sewanee, TN on July 15th-19th, 2026. Mikey offers the first evening Dharma talk on The Fire Sermon. Enjoy! Sat. Aug. 22nd - Fundamentals of Attachment Theory and the Mettagroup Method with George HaasLEARN MORE AND REGISTER HERE: https://www.wildheartmeditationcenter.org/events/georgehaasWild 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

In this series finale of the Menlo Midweek Podcast, Matt Summers and Phil EuBank wrap up seven weeks of exploring the world's major worldviews by turning their focus directly toward the heart of Christianity: the Gospel. Reflecting on the journey from Judaism, Islam, Buddhism, Mormonism, Catholicism, and Agnosticism, this episode draws a stark line between every human transaction, where we try to perform, prove, or bribe our way to God and the true Gospel, where God reverses direction and gives us a way home. Matt and Phil unpack how religion acts as humanity's attempt to climb back to Eden, why the distinction between a bribe and a gift matters so deeply, and how even well-meaning Christians accidentally turn grace back into performance.

Yesterday we studied the Parable of the Treasure. Now, Jesus continues his teaching with another similar story tied to it. They go together, so let’s read them together. Matthew 13: 44-45, “The Kingdom of Heaven is like a treasure that a man discovered hidden in a field. In his excitement, he hid it again and sold everything he owned to get enough money to buy the field. Again, the Kingdom of Heaven is like a merchant on the lookout for choice pearls. When he discovered a pearl of great value, he sold everything he owned and bought it.” Remember yesterday was all about a man who discovered hidden treasure in a field. He just found it there – stumbled upon it. But now in this story of the pearl, we have a merchant on the lookout for choice pearls. A merchant is on a mission to find something specific. He is trained, he is experienced, and he knows exactly what he is looking for. One wasn’t looking and found hidden treasure. One was searching intentionally and discovered a pearl of great value. And isn’t it the same with finding Jesus. Some of us just stumbled right into Jesus when we weren’t even looking for him – while others of us found him after searching through every other religion, every other way of life and then we finally found Jesus. Which one is right? BOTH because they both result in the same life changing encounter. I didn’t go searching for Jesus. I had a beautiful childhood and lived in a sweet little bubble. At 15 my family started going to church and I was happy to go because in my tiny country town there wasn’t much else to do. I wasn’t expecting to meet a Savior, I didn’t even know I needed one – but there he was, so sweetly awaiting our encounter. It wasn’t dramatic. I didn’t have a bunch of bad decisions and regrets to lay on the altar. I just knew there was a prompting from within calling my surrender to his divine guidance. I was the one who stumbled on hidden treasure in a field when I wasn’t even looking for it. That’s the kingdom of heaven. Then there’s my friend Cat. In her 30’s she had walked down a path of addiction that had led her to a crashing end. While in rehab trying to get sober and regain her life, she was introduced to a variety of “higher powers” for the choosing. She began studying and trying them. Buddhism was surely it, so she tried it – but felt nothing. So on to the next one. How about Hinduism. No, that wasn’t it. She left rehab now sober, but still searching. On the way out, her counselor handed her her own personal copy of ‘Jesus Calling’ and said, “At some point you’re going to need this.” Cat tucked that little devotional book away in a closet and returned to life. It was a better life sober, but not a whole life. When the next big family catastrophe hit, she knew she needed something to carry her through and not return to the familiarity of her addiction, and she remembered the words of the counselor at rehab who had said, “At some point, you’re going to need this.” And Cat knew – if there was ever a time I need something, it’s now. So, she found that book, ‘Jesus Calling’ in the closet, she opened the page to that day’s date, and there she found every single word she most needed. But more than words, she found the loving, forgiving, life-changing Savior she had been searching for all along. AND SHE KNEW IT. She knew this was THE ONE. Jesus was the pearl of greatest value and nothing would ever be the same for her. Cat was the one who had been searching for years and finally found her pearl. That’s the kingdom of heaven. Isn’t it amazing that we have BOTH? Both a Savior who will pursue us when we aren’t even pursuing him – AND a Savior who will patiently wait as we pursue everything that isn’t him and perfectly align an encounter with him when everything else has failed? Jesus doesn’t fit in our little box. It doesn’t have to be one way. He is THE WAY, and he will make the way to you in whatever way that needs to be. He’s the hidden treasure you stumble upon without even looking – and he’s the pearl of great value you’ve studied and searched for your entire life. But remember this – either way, he’s worth giving up EVERYTHING for. In both parables, when found, everything else was sold. Remember that. Jesus requires everything. He’s worth everything. He’s greater than everything. For my sisters who are more like me without the dramatic story of searching for Jesus, and more just stumbling upon him when you weren’t even looking, remember you’ve found the greatest treasure of all! And for my sisters who have searched their entire lives, here’s Jesus and he’s everything you’ve been looking for! He is your pearl! And really think about Jesus being our pearl. How wild that he would use that as the example in his teaching. Do you know how a pearl is formed? A pearl begins with an irritation. If an oyster never has an irritation, they simply never have a pearl. But if their little world inside their shell is penetrated by the irritation of a grain of sand, then that irritation creates something that becomes valuable. The irritation of sand inside the shell causes the oyster to respond. Their response covers the sand with layers of naturally produced protection from within. Layer after layer, something beautiful is formed around something that originally caused great pain. Think about that – the very thing that irritated the oyster becomes part of what makes the pearl so valuable. Of course that’s why Jesus uses the pearl as an example – he knows this is how God works sometimes! Something you never asked for gets into your life. A disappointment, a betrayal, a loss, a failure, a terrible season, an series of bad decisions that turned into an addiction. Irritation grows. It gets worse. You’re so uncomfortable. But God is growing something within you. Something of great value. This is where Jesus shows up!!!!!!! Don’t you see how God can use what was so painful to produce something so beautiful in your life? He wastes nothing. The oyster doesn’t wake up one morning and say, “I think I’ll make a pearl today.” It simply responds to what has entered its life. And slowly, layer by layer, something extraordinary develops. Maybe that’s what God has been doing in you. You thought you were just surviving. God was forming you. You thought you were just getting through another hard season. God was adding another layer. You thought you were being delayed. God was developing depth. You thought the pain was ruining your story. God was making something beautiful from it. And then you find your pearl. You find your Jesus, that is what you’ve been searching for all along. And what do you do when you find that pearl – You don’t just keep looking for something else. You don’t keep trying other things. NO. You know this is what you’ve been looking for all your life. This is your answer. Here he is. And you give up everything else because you know there’s absolutely NOTHING better! What if some of the things you’ve spent your life chasing were never the pearl? But Jesus says, “You found it.” The Kingdom is the pearl. Jesus is the pearl. And when you finally understand His worth, you realize, I don’t have to spend the rest of my life searching. I’ve found what my heart was looking for. Jesus is worth everything. 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In this episode, I explore what death has to teach us about being fully alive, prompted by the recent death of mountaineer Nirmal "Nims" Purja in an avalanche in Pakistan. Starting with Richard Dawkins' reminder that "we are going to die, and that makes us the lucky ones," I reflect on why there is nothing ordinary about an ordinary life — and why so many of us still leave the winning lottery ticket of being alive sitting in a drawer. I share the Buddha's teaching on mindfulness of death, where only the monks practicing at the timescale of a single mouthful or a single breath are called truly awake, along with the five remembrances, the Pali words samvega (the jolt when mortality gets real) and pasada (the settled confidence that the jolt can become a path), and the bardo teaching from The Tibetan Book of the Dead that we are dying and being born in every moment. Ultimately, I suggest the audacity to live isn't about risk but about honesty — living a life true to yourself, the thing Bronnie Ware's dying patients regretted missing most — and about a legacy measured not in accomplishments but in leaving people better than we found them. The invitation this week: once a day, pause and remember, "I will die, and I don't know when," and notice what that does to the next ten minutes of your life.Explore more at eightfoldpath.com: full transcripts, guided meditations, courses, and Noah AI, an AI you can chat with about any episode or teaching. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.