Podcasts about Buddhism

In this episode, Wendy speaks with Buddhist scholar and meditation teacher Liz Monson. Liz is one of the pioneers in combining Buddhist teachings with nature-based practices, and her work helps us connect in an embodied way to the fundamental interconnectedness of the world. This conversation covers many topics, including: how spirituality and connection to nature fed into her path to Buddhism; nature-based practices in the Buddhist tradition; moving beyond human-centrism; the energies of the natural world; the sandcastle of the constructed self; why human beings are really here; lessons about human nature from 9/11; wisdom from the trees; practices to connect with the elements of nature; working with elemental energies to understand emotions; understanding the divine masculine and feminine archetypes; psychedelics and meditation as complementary pathways toward awakening; an experiential approach to suffering and healing; and the need for self-compassion and love. Full show notes and resources

 This Teisho was given by the Reverend Karen Do'on Weik Roshi at the Buddhist Temple of Toledo on July 3rd, 2024. In this talk Do'on Roshi revisits case 1 from the Mumonkan (aka The Gateless Gate) known as Joshu's Dog.   If you would like to learn more about the Buddhist Temple of Toledo or to make a donation in support of this podcast please visit buddhisttempleoftoledo.org.   Part of Reverand Do'on's Teisho on the Mumonkan series.

Exploring poetry, beauty, and art, Jack helps his dear listeners appreciate the harmonious dichotomy of all life experiences.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.Join the Year of Awakening with Jack Kornfield for a monthly group livestream Q&A hang with Jack, along with weekly modules and prompts to keep your life focused on awakening!“Poetry and beauty are not a denial of the sorrows of the world, but a grace somehow that holds and understands them—the irony and the mixture of love and terror that make up life.” – Jack KornfieldIn this episode, Jack mindfully explores:How art, beauty, music and poetry uplift the world to the sacredRumi's poem, Tending Two ShopsLetting go of fear, opening into freedomPoetry not as a denial of life's struggles, but as a gracious way throughBeing at home with oneselfPoetry from Siddhartha Buddha, Thich Nhat Hanh, Rumi, and moreTelling the truth, becoming nobody, and walking the pathMeditation and working with our ‘inner mob' of voicesRelating to the ‘zoo' of our lives with meditationThe three dimensions of Rumi's spiritual poetrySaying ‘yes' to this too, even to what's difficultWalking this life and path in humbleness“Sometimes the greatest political act is to turn on Mozart and turn off the news, or to walk by the ocean or in the hills during sunset, or to read a poem—to sense a possibility in the midst of all the 10,000 joys and sorrows of finding some peace or balance in this heart that can then be brought to the world around us.” – Jack KornfieldThis Dharma Talk from 4/15/1993 at Spirit Rock Meditation Center was originally published on DharmaSeed.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.“The source of much of the suffering in the world is the loss of attention, beauty, and connection with one another.” – Jack KornfieldSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Send us a textWhat if love was the ultimate catalyst for real, lasting transformation? In this luminous conversation, Swami Nityananda joins Joey Pinz to explore the powerful idea that love is not just a feeling — it's the energy that fuels meaningful change.Swami shares her deep insights on how love can become your rocket fuel for healthy habits, how to break free from patterns of fear and anxiety, and why true happiness must begin in the present moment, not as a future goal.From using meditation to rewire the brain

Sheer Zed joins me to discuss his new book, Thai Tattoo Magick: The Initiatory Practices of the Thai Buddhist Magicians. Let's embark on a profound journey through multiple pilgrimages to Thailand, exploring intense initiatory practices and ancient rituals that lead to meaningful personal transformation. Discover how encounters with Thai Buddhist magicians and the application of sacred tattoos can profoundly alter one's mind and spirit, transcending conventional understanding of healing and self-discovery. Get the book: https://amzn.to/4mCnJ72 More on Sheer: https://linktr.ee/SheerZed Get The Occult Elvis: https://amzn.to/4jnTjE4 Virtual Alexandria Academy: https://thegodabovegod.com/virtual-alexandria-academy/ The Gnostic Tarot: https://www.makeplayingcards.com/sell/synkrasis Homepage: https://thegodabovegod.com/ Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/aeonbyte AB Prime: https://thegodabovegod.com/members/subscription-levels/ Voice Over services: https://thegodabovegod.com/voice-talent/ Support with donation: https://buy.stripe.com/00g16Q8RK8D93mw288

Meditation pioneer, world-renowned teacher, and New York Times bestselling author, Sharon Salzberg offers a talk on The Power of Loving Kindness. This episode was recorded Saturday, August 9th at an online fundraiser for Wild Heart Meditation Center. Enjoy!***Get Your Mind Right: A Young People's Retreat on the Four Great Efforts with Mikey Livid and Rachael Tanner-Smith Nov. 13th-16th: https://southerndharma.org/retreat-schedule/1522/get-your-mind-right-a-young-peoples-retreat-on-the-four-great-efforts/ 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

Mindfulness is not about holding the busy world at bay, it's to cultivate a more alive, responsive, effective and warm-hearted way of being within the world as it already exists and within a life you already live. This deep dialogue explores how to find composure right in the midst of the storm and ways to integrate mindfulness into our daily life.Marc Lesser's books include Less: Accomplishing More by Doing Less (New World Library 2009), Know Yourself, Forget Yourself (New World Library 2013) and Seven Practices of a Mindful Leader: Lessons From Google and a Zen Monastery Kitchen (New World Library 2019).Interview Date: 6/7/2019 Tags: MP3, Marc Lesser, mindfulness, Norman Fischer, Tassajara Zen Center, Macmindfulness, loving kindness, sympathetic joy, listening, Michael Pollan, self-sufficient, collaboration, acceptance, simplicity, radical responsibility for yourself, Shunryu Suzuki Zen Mind, Beginner's Mind, blame, showing up, compassion, Robert Gass, ground truth, Meditation, Philosophy, Personal Transformation, Buddhism, Work/Livelihood

Ethan discusses three reasons we take vows and make commitments from a Buddhist perspective, and gives special emphasis to The Bodhisattva Vow, where we commit to not only pursue our own path of liberation and awakening, but also vow to work for the benefit of all beings, to the limits of space, until all beings are awake. It is a commitment to the collective liberation of all beings. Of course, this is impossible (at least in our lifetimes), so why would we agree to do it? Using the classic structure of the vow, along with modern commentary, Ethan dissects the reasons we would take on such a commitment. Ethan briefly mentions a much earlier episode of the podcast, where he discusses the first vow along the Buddhist path (The refuge vow). That episode can be found here. Please support the podcast via Substack and subscribe for free or with small monthly contributions. Additional links and show notes are available there. Paid subscribers will receive occasional extras like guided meditations, extra podcast episodes and more! The Thursday Meditation Group happens each week at 8am ET on Thursdays, and a special guided meditation on Open Awareness in Everyday Life was released this week. Another bonus podcast discussed a mindful take on the Revolutionary Astrology of Summer 2025 with Juliana McCarthy and Ethan Nichtern. These are all available to paid subscribers. You can also subscribe to The Road Home podcast wherever you get your pods (Apple, Spotify,Ethan's Website, etc). Ethan's most recent book, Confidence: Holding Your Seat Through Life's Eight Worldly Winds was just awarded a gold medal in the 2025 Nautilus Book Awards. You can visit Ethan's website to order a signed copy. Please allow two weeks from the time of your order for your copy to arrive. Don't forget to sign up for the August 23 “Windhorse Meditation” Online Retreatat this link and the upcoming 5 day retreat at the lovely Garrison Institute at this link ! Check out all the cool offerings at our podcast sponsor Dharma Moon, including a free webinar with David Nichtern on why become a meditation teacher on Sep 2th, 2025. Free video courses co-taught by Ethan and others, such as The Three Marks of Existence, are also available for download at Dharma Moon.

Alyson and Breht are guests on the Red Star Ministry Podcast, a Christian Communist outlet. Together with the host Christian, they discuss Alyson and Breht's evolving personal relationship with religion and atheism, the Dialectics of Nature and Human Consciousness, Spinozist Philosophy, Marxist Philosophy, Post-Atheism and much more.

"What if your greatest suffering became your greatest gift? Dr. Fleet Maull takes us on an extraordinary journey—from a troubled youth and a 14-year prison sentence to becoming a renowned meditation teacher, social entrepreneur, and pioneer in neuro-somatic mindfulness. Discover how he turned his darkest moments into a life dedicated to healing, resilience, and profound personal growth.Episode Highlights

Linda Trinh joins Let's Talk Memoir for a conversation about her personal spiritual journey, opening a memoir with a question, sparks of creativity even when we're not actively writing, focusing on voice, owning our many identities and communities, making meaning from experience, paying attention to both the external and internal search, memoir as a time capsule, being okay with the version of ourselves as it is on the page, being gentle with ourselves, recognizing we are works in progress, Buddhism and world mythology, becoming comfortable with the unknown, and her new memoir Seeking Spirit.    Also in this episode: -book promotion -owning our identities -paying attention to the nudge   Books mentioned in this episode: The Year of Magical Thinking by Joan Didion Blue Nights by Joan Didion Embers by Richard Wagamese Body and Soul: Stories for Skeptics and Seeker by Susan Scott Perspehones Children by Rowan McCandless   Linda Trinh is a Vietnamese Canadian author of nonfiction and fiction for adults and children. Her creative nonfiction has appeared in literary magazines such as The Fiddlehead, Room, and Prairie Fire. She has been nominated for two National Magazine Awards. Seeking Spirit: A Vietnamese (Non) Buddhist Memoir is her first book for adults. Her award-winning early chapter book series, The Nguyen Kids, explores Vietnamese culture and identity with elements of the supernatural, spirituality, and social justice woven in. She lives with her family in Winnipeg, Canada. Connect with Linda: Website: https://lindaytrinh.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/LindaYTrinh Get her book: https://guernicaeditions.com/products/seeking-spirit?srsltid=AfmBOor-knwnqu9qqq7QBvtBJYsWYRYebw3JrIr9cV-rjFzEwe2oP2nL – Ronit's writing has appeared in The Atlantic, The Rumpus, The New York Times, Poets & Writers, The Iowa Review, Hippocampus, The Washington Post, Writer's Digest, American Literary Review, and elsewhere. Her memoir WHEN SHE COMES BACK about the loss of her mother to the guru Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh and their eventual reconciliation was named Finalist in the 2021 Housatonic Awards Awards, the 2021 Indie Excellence Awards, and was a 2021 Book Riot Best True Crime Book. Her short story collection HOME IS A MADE-UP PLACE won Hidden River Arts' 2020 Eludia Award and the 2023 Page Turner Awards for Short Stories.  She earned an MFA in Nonfiction Writing at Pacific University, is Creative Nonfiction Editor at The Citron Review, and teaches memoir through the University of Washington's Online Continuum Program and also independently. She launched Let's Talk Memoir in 2022, lives in Seattle with her family of people and dogs, and is at work on her next book. More about Ronit: https://ronitplank.com Subscribe to Ronit's Substack: https://substack.com/@ronitplank Follow Ronit: https://www.instagram.com/ronitplank/ https://www.facebook.com/RonitPlank https://bsky.app/profile/ronitplank.bsky.social   Background photo credit: Photo by Patrick Tomasso on Unsplash Headshot photo credit: Sarah Anne Photography Theme music: Isaac Joel, Dead Moll's Fingers

The idea of past lives may not make sense, and isn't scientifically verifiable. But still, the question of what we might have been before our conception is one worth asking. Where did I come from?Episode 57: Where Did I Come From?From August 28 to 31, Scott Snibbe is leading an in-person meditation retreat at Vajrapani Institute. We'll explore antidotes to anxiety, fear, and loneliness—and cultivate the deeper causes of a happy mind; connected, loving relationships; and a better world. It all happens in the beautiful redwood forests of California, while enjoying delicious vegetarian meals and meeting thoughtful new friends.SIGN UP NOWSupport the show

It's said that if there is impatience, it's because there is resistance to what is and that is the definition of the second noble truth - our inability to be with things as they are. In this reflection, Mary discusses how powerful it can be to cultivate patience, how it is a key part of equanimity and how we can see it's importance in our everyday lives.Recorded August 9, 2025 in the virtual worldSend me a text with any questions or comments! Include your name and email if you would like a response - it's not included automatically. Thanks.Visit Mary's website for more info on classes and teachings.

In this episode, we reflect on the Beginner's Mind retreat, exploring the courage it takes to meet each moment without clinging to certainty. Through a Rilke poem, a timeless Zen story, and the shared experiences of retreat participants, we discover the power of “not knowing” as a doorway to intimacy with life. The talk invites us to let go of our assumptions, soften our habits of mind, and return to the freshness of direct experience. Coming home, we find, is not a destination but the living presence of this moment.This talk was given on July 13th 2025 during the GVZM Sunday Program. ★ Support this podcast ★

Many people all over the world don't like karma, Buddhists included. It's seen in a really cliched, hippy kind of way. So serious people don't like to talk about it. But actually, if we look at the big picture of Buddha's view of the universe, it's a coherent world view actually. The thing is, if the law of karma were not relevant to Buddhism, if it were not something valid, the whole of Buddhism would collapse into a heap of complete absurdity.  The whole of Buddhism is rooted in the view of karma, so it's crucial to understand. Because it's so fundamentally different from the philosophical materialist view, which of course is the view that prevails in our culture, and the one we think is serious, then we feel sometimes embarrassed to talk about it.  But let's look at it. The Buddha's view is fundamentally different from other religious traditions. But often when we hear about karma it sounds exactly the same. Don't do this and don't do that, and if you do do this something bad will happen. We don't ever think about the good things. We hear it as a system of punishment and reward. If we want to understand Buddhism we need to know these differences and understand them properly, so we can start to apply them in our lives. To make these differences really clear, we need to know what the mind is. This is the starting point for the Buddha, and this is the central point, all the way to Buddhahood, all the way to enlightenment. To understand the mind is absolutely vital. The mind is what ‘creates' karma.  The Buddha's view is super clear, all the evidence is there, all the literature is there, all the findings of all the great yogis are there - that consciousness or mind (these words are used synonymously) is not physical, not the brain, nor is it even a function of the brain. It doesn't mean the brain doesn't play a role, it's very evident. The brain is a physical indicator of what is going on in the mind, in the consciousness. Mind has got far subtler levels of cognition, this is something absolutely fundamentally necessary to understand if you want to understand Buddhism, Buddhist psychology, Buddhist philosophy, and the view of karma. The potential of mind, there's nothing equivalent in modern psychology. It sounds like science fiction to neuroscientists and psychologists, the level to which we can develop our mind. So you could say that one of the key jobs of being Buddhist is to remove from the mind - all ego, fears, neuroses, delusion, attachment, jealousy, anger, low self esteem, depression. But not only can we do that, we can develop to perfection all the other parts of our mind - love, wisdom, compassion, generosity - all the virtues. Buddha has found these are at the core of our being. These are who we actually are in our being.  Mind and consciousness refer to your thoughts, intellect, feelings, subconscious, unconscious, instinct, intuition, this entire spectrum of our inner being, this is our mind. It's a much more subjective use of the word, and it's super personal. Mind does not come from anyone else, nobody gives you a mind. We don't need creating, we do fine creating ourselves, and this is where the law of karma comes in. So then what is it that determines the person I am? The Buddha is like a doctor, this is a really powerful point about karma, the Buddha says it's a natural law that nobody wants to be harmed. This is fundamental, no-one makes it that way. A negative action is one that harms another. It's a natural law, like gravity, that every millisecond of what any sentient being thinks, does, or says - is a natural process of programming your mind, or as they say in the texts - of sowing seeds in your mind. Seeds by definition will naturally ripen, and in this case, as our own future experiences. His Holiness the Dalai Lama calls karma ‘self creation'. Mahamudra Centre for Universal Unity, New Zealand, 12th April 2021.

Alyson and Breht are guests on the Red Star Ministry Podcast, a Christian Communist outlet. Together with the host Christian, they discuss Alyson and Breht's evolving personal relationship with religion and atheism, the Dialectics of Nature and Human Consciousness, Spinozist Philosophy, Marxist Philosophy, Post-Atheism and much more.

Join us for an unforgettable evening of insight, rhythm and discussion. Hip-Hop Meditative Mindfulness blends two worlds that would seem to be at odds—the stillness of meditation and the vitality of hip-hop. Together, they invite you into a fascinating new space for powerful spiritual practice. Coupled with a discussion of how these practices can reach people immersed in popular culture and help them find the wisdom of mindfulness and Buddhism, this will be a memorable event. Led by Born I—a renowned meditation teacher on the Balance app, an author praised by Alice Walker, and a hip-hop artist with more than 20 million streams—our event will open with a grounding guided meditation and crystal singing bowl sound bath, followed by a discussion of healing, impermanence and street culture, drawing from Born I's experiences as a Buddhist, a father, a musician, and an author. Born I will also discuss his new book, Lyrical Dharma: Hip-Hop as Mindfulness, and his journey from the street to spirituality. "hell is behind uspresence and kindnessended my blindness" — Born I Although available on live stream, this event will be best in-person. So come to the Club for this experiential event, meet Born I and your peers, and maybe even have dinner afterward at a nearby restaurant! About the Speaker Born I (Ofosu Jones-Quartey) is a Ghanaian-American based in Washington, D.C. He is the male voice on the popular Balance meditation app and creator of the new book Lyrical Dharma: Hip-Hop as Mindfulness (Parallax Press) and companion album Komorebi. A Personal Growth Member-led Forum program. Forums at the Club are organized and run by volunteer programmers who are members of The Commonwealth Club, and they cover a diverse range of topics. Learn more about our Forums. OrganizerEric Siegel  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

My guest for Episode #321 of the My Favorite Mistake podcast is Cynthia Kane, founder and CEO of the Kane Intentional Communication Institute and author of several books, including How to Communicate Like a Buddhist and The Pause: How to Keep Your Cool in Tough Situations.   Cynthia shares a pivotal mistake from early in her life: letting other people's opinions matter more than her own—especially after a college professor told her she'd never be a good writer. That moment stung, but it also eventually propelled her toward a path of mindfulness, self-trust, and transformational communication.   Cynthia explains how her journey through loss, meditation, and Buddhist principles helped her develop a more intentional way of communicating—not just with others, but with herself. We explore how mistakes, reactivity, and emotional attachment can all be reframed through mindfulness and self-awareness. Cynthia offers practical tools for staying calm during high-stakes conversations, including pausing, resetting the nervous system, and learning to speak from an “empty place”—a state of clarity without judgment or reactivity.   “Every mistake leads us to something better.”   Throughout the conversation, we also unpack the difference between being nice and being kind, how communication impacts stress levels, and why helpful language is honest, kind, and necessary. Cynthia's insights are especially valuable for leaders, teams, and anyone who wants to communicate more effectively under pressure. As she says, “Every mistake leads us to something better.”     Questions and Topics: What's your favorite mistake? When did you realize that listening to others more than yourself had become a pattern? How did the loss of your first love influence your journey of self-awareness and healing? What led you to start writing again after being discouraged? What is creative nonfiction, and how does it differ from other forms of writing? Did working with an editor bring up old doubts, and how did you manage that feedback process? How does Buddhism shape your view on mistakes? Does that mindset help you approach writing mistakes differently? How do you balance detachment from mistakes with still caring about your work? What does “communicating like a Buddhist” mean in everyday life? Can you give examples where helpful vs. hurtful language is more subtle? What's the difference between being nice and being kind? How does changing our communication style help reduce stress? What inspired your newest book, The Pause? What's an example of a workplace situation where not pausing leads to regret? What should someone do if they need a pause but the other person won't allow it? How can we calm ourselves in the moment to respond more intentionally? What does it mean to respond from an “empty place”? What breathing techniques do you recommend in tough conversations?

On the podcast today I am joined by Kirin Narayan, emerita professor at the College of Asia and the Pacific at the Australian National University. Kirin is joining me to talk about her new book, Cave of my Ancestors: Vishwakarma and the Artisans of Ellora published by Chicago University Press in 2024, and in 2025 as an Indian edition by HarperCollins India. As a young girl in Bombay, Kirin Narayan was enthralled by her father's stories about how their ancestors had made the ancient rock-cut cave temples at Ellora. Recalling those stories as an adult, she was inspired to learn more about the caves, especially the Buddhist worship hall known as the “Vishwakarma cave.” Immersing herself in family history, oral traditions, and works by archaeologists, art historians, scholars of Buddhism, Indologists, and Sanskritists, in Cave of my Ancestors Narayan set out to answer the question of how this cave came to be venerated as the home of Vishwakarma, the god of making in Hindu and Buddhist traditions. Part scholarship, part detective story, and memoir, Narayan's book leads readers through centuries of history, offering a sensitive meditation on devotion, wonder, and all that connects us to place, family, the past, and the divine. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/new-books-network

******Support the channel******Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/thedissenterPayPal: paypal.me/thedissenterPayPal Subscription 1 Dollar: https://tinyurl.com/yb3acuuyPayPal Subscription 3 Dollars: https://tinyurl.com/ybn6bg9lPayPal Subscription 5 Dollars: https://tinyurl.com/ycmr9gpzPayPal Subscription 10 Dollars: https://tinyurl.com/y9r3fc9mPayPal Subscription 20 Dollars: https://tinyurl.com/y95uvkao ******Follow me on******Website: https://www.thedissenter.net/The Dissenter Goodreads list: https://shorturl.at/7BMoBFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/thedissenteryt/Twitter: https://x.com/TheDissenterYT This show is sponsored by Enlites, Learning & Development done differently. Check the website here: http://enlites.com/ Dr. Ian James Kidd is an Associate Professor at the Department of Philosophy at the University of Nottingham. Most of his current research concerns epistemology, virtues and vices, misanthropy (on which he is writing a book) and pessimism, and south and east Asian philosophies, especially Buddhism, Confucianism and Daoism.In this episode, we talk about philosophical misanthropy. We first discuss what it is, the failing of humanity, and whether most people are decent. We then talk about the relationship between vices, corruption, and misanthropy; and religious and secular misanthropy. We discuss the different types of misanthropes: the activist, the enemy, the fugitive, and the quietist. Finally, we discuss if there could be a fifth type, who would simply embrace the evils of humanity, and how we can deal with humanity's malevolence without losing hope.--A HUGE THANK YOU TO MY PATRONS/SUPPORTERS: PER HELGE LARSEN, JERRY MULLER, BERNARDO SEIXAS, ADAM KESSEL, MATTHEW WHITINGBIRD, ARNAUD WOLFF, TIM HOLLOSY, HENRIK AHLENIUS, ROBERT WINDHAGER, RUI INACIO, ZOOP, MARCO NEVES, COLIN HOLBROOK, PHIL KAVANAGH, SAMUEL ANDREEFF, FRANCIS FORDE, TIAGO NUNES, FERGAL CUSSEN, HAL HERZOG, NUNO MACHADO, JONATHAN LEIBRANT, JOÃO LINHARES, STANTON T, SAMUEL CORREA, ERIK HAINES, MARK SMITH, JOÃO EIRA, TOM HUMMEL, SARDUS FRANCE, DAVID SLOAN WILSON, YACILA DEZA-ARAUJO, ROMAIN ROCH, DIEGO LONDOÑO CORREA, YANICK PUNTER, CHARLOTTE BLEASE, NICOLE BARBARO, ADAM HUNT, PAWEL OSTASZEWSKI, NELLEKE BAK, GUY MADISON, GARY G HELLMANN, SAIMA AFZAL, ADRIAN JAEGGI, PAULO TOLENTINO, JOÃO BARBOSA, JULIAN PRICE, HEDIN BRØNNER, DOUGLAS FRY, FRANCA BORTOLOTTI, GABRIEL PONS CORTÈS, URSULA LITZCKE, SCOTT, ZACHARY FISH, TIM DUFFY, SUNNY SMITH, JON WISMAN, WILLIAM BUCKNER, PAUL-GEORGE ARNAUD, LUKE GLOWACKI, GEORGIOS THEOPHANOUS, CHRIS WILLIAMSON, PETER WOLOSZYN, DAVID WILLIAMS, DIOGO COSTA, ALEX CHAU, CORALIE CHEVALLIER, BANGALORE ATHEISTS, LARRY D. LEE JR., OLD HERRINGBONE, MICHAEL BAILEY, DAN SPERBER, ROBERT GRESSIS, JEFF MCMAHAN, JAKE ZUEHL, BARNABAS RADICS, MARK CAMPBELL, TOMAS DAUBNER, LUKE NISSEN, KIMBERLY JOHNSON, JESSICA NOWICKI, LINDA BRANDIN, VALENTIN STEINMANN, ALEXANDER HUBBARD, BR, JONAS HERTNER, URSULA GOODENOUGH, DAVID PINSOF, SEAN NELSON, MIKE LAVIGNE, JOS KNECHT, LUCY, MANVIR SINGH, PETRA WEIMANN, CAROLA FEEST, MAURO JÚNIOR, 航 豊川, TONY BARRETT, NIKOLAI VISHNEVSKY, STEVEN GANGESTAD, TED FARRIS, HUGO B., JAMES, JORDAN MANSFIELD, AND CHARLOTTE ALLEN!A SPECIAL THANKS TO MY PRODUCERS, YZAR WEHBE, JIM FRANK, ŁUKASZ STAFINIAK, TOM VANEGDOM, BERNARD HUGUENEY, CURTIS DIXON, BENEDIKT MUELLER, THOMAS TRUMBLE, KATHRINE AND PATRICK TOBIN, JONCARLO MONTENEGRO, NICK GOLDEN, CHRISTINE GLASS, IGOR NIKIFOROVSKI, AND PER KRAULIS!AND TO MY EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS, MATTHEW LAVENDER, SERGIU CODREANU, ROSEY, AND GREGORY HASTINGS!

Episode 100: What started as a passion project has turned into a full career pivot!Four years ago, I hit record on the first episode of my podcast.I had no big plans. Just one question I couldn't stop thinking about:How do we live a good life?So I started How to Live.Shared what I'd learned.Stayed curious.Kept listening.Then something magical happened.I got a message from my old BCG boss, Dean Tong.We hadn't spoken in 15 years.He'd stumbled upon the podcast. We met.Talked about Stoicism, Buddhism, and Purpose.Then he invited me to speak at UOB Bank, where he was the Chief HR Officer.I was nervous. It was a corporate setting.I had a meditation exercise planned. Would it land?Dean said:“Don't worry. I'll take the risk. Just do your best.”That support changed everything.The talk worked.It led to more sessions. More companies.And one day I realised - this wasn't a side project anymore.It was a new path.Keynotes. Workshops. Leadership Programs.Helping leaders reconnect with purpose, reach their next peak, and navigate uncertainty with resilience.It felt meaningful.And it could pay the bills.So I took the leap.Sold my digital agency. Went all in.Today, I've led over 75 workshops across four continents with companies like Google, Unilever, HSBC, and Mastercard.And I've seen how powerful ancient wisdom can be in modern leadership.The podcast has grown beyond my wildest dreams too. Ranked in the top 3% globally and listened to in 150 countries.The lesson?When you do what you love with honesty and passion, it's infectious.People are watching. People are listening, even if they never like or comment.(Dean didn't either.)But sometimes, just one of them can change the trajectory of your entire life.

In this episode, we reflect on why it's so easy to judge others from afar and how we can learn to avoid becoming addicted to judgement, even when it is very prevalent in the society around us.

Urgyen Sangharakshita - Bhante - who died last year, is not only the founder of the Triratna Buddhist Order and Community, but also teacher and spiritual friend to Padmavajra. Padmavajra first met him when he was 17 and in this talk he shares some of his own most cherished memories of Bhante, including his experiences of being with him in India when he returned there in the 1970's to found the Order there. Excerpted from the talk entitled Urgyen Sangharakshita: The Bodhisattva's Reply given at Sheffield Buddhist Centre. 2019. *** 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 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@FreeBuddhistAudio1967  

Aryajaya explores Sangharakshita's relationship to his teachers, who form the lineage for the Triratna Buddhist Order. A lovely exploration of the experience of relationship to the Bodhisattvas of Buddhist tradition via meditations passed from teacher to disciple, evoking a wide open sense of connection to the great beauty they represent. Excerpted from the talk Sangharakshita's First Connection with His Teachers and Receiving Practices given as part of the series Themes from the Dharma Life of Urgyen Sangharakshita (Triratna International Council 2019). *** 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 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@FreeBuddhistAudio1967  

On the podcast today I am joined by Kirin Narayan, emerita professor at the College of Asia and the Pacific at the Australian National University. Kirin is joining me to talk about her new book, Cave of my Ancestors: Vishwakarma and the Artisans of Ellora published by Chicago University Press in 2024, and in 2025 as an Indian edition by HarperCollins India. As a young girl in Bombay, Kirin Narayan was enthralled by her father's stories about how their ancestors had made the ancient rock-cut cave temples at Ellora. Recalling those stories as an adult, she was inspired to learn more about the caves, especially the Buddhist worship hall known as the “Vishwakarma cave.” Immersing herself in family history, oral traditions, and works by archaeologists, art historians, scholars of Buddhism, Indologists, and Sanskritists, in Cave of my Ancestors Narayan set out to answer the question of how this cave came to be venerated as the home of Vishwakarma, the god of making in Hindu and Buddhist traditions. Part scholarship, part detective story, and memoir, Narayan's book leads readers through centuries of history, offering a sensitive meditation on devotion, wonder, and all that connects us to place, family, the past, and the divine. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/anthropology

On the podcast today I am joined by Kirin Narayan, emerita professor at the College of Asia and the Pacific at the Australian National University. Kirin is joining me to talk about her new book, Cave of my Ancestors: Vishwakarma and the Artisans of Ellora published by Chicago University Press in 2024, and in 2025 as an Indian edition by HarperCollins India. As a young girl in Bombay, Kirin Narayan was enthralled by her father's stories about how their ancestors had made the ancient rock-cut cave temples at Ellora. Recalling those stories as an adult, she was inspired to learn more about the caves, especially the Buddhist worship hall known as the “Vishwakarma cave.” Immersing herself in family history, oral traditions, and works by archaeologists, art historians, scholars of Buddhism, Indologists, and Sanskritists, in Cave of my Ancestors Narayan set out to answer the question of how this cave came to be venerated as the home of Vishwakarma, the god of making in Hindu and Buddhist traditions. Part scholarship, part detective story, and memoir, Narayan's book leads readers through centuries of history, offering a sensitive meditation on devotion, wonder, and all that connects us to place, family, the past, and the divine. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/archaeology

On the podcast today I am joined by Kirin Narayan, emerita professor at the College of Asia and the Pacific at the Australian National University. Kirin is joining me to talk about her new book, Cave of my Ancestors: Vishwakarma and the Artisans of Ellora published by Chicago University Press in 2024, and in 2025 as an Indian edition by HarperCollins India. As a young girl in Bombay, Kirin Narayan was enthralled by her father's stories about how their ancestors had made the ancient rock-cut cave temples at Ellora. Recalling those stories as an adult, she was inspired to learn more about the caves, especially the Buddhist worship hall known as the “Vishwakarma cave.” Immersing herself in family history, oral traditions, and works by archaeologists, art historians, scholars of Buddhism, Indologists, and Sanskritists, in Cave of my Ancestors Narayan set out to answer the question of how this cave came to be venerated as the home of Vishwakarma, the god of making in Hindu and Buddhist traditions. Part scholarship, part detective story, and memoir, Narayan's book leads readers through centuries of history, offering a sensitive meditation on devotion, wonder, and all that connects us to place, family, the past, and the divine. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/buddhist-studies

On the podcast today I am joined by Kirin Narayan, emerita professor at the College of Asia and the Pacific at the Australian National University. Kirin is joining me to talk about her new book, Cave of my Ancestors: Vishwakarma and the Artisans of Ellora published by Chicago University Press in 2024, and in 2025 as an Indian edition by HarperCollins India. As a young girl in Bombay, Kirin Narayan was enthralled by her father's stories about how their ancestors had made the ancient rock-cut cave temples at Ellora. Recalling those stories as an adult, she was inspired to learn more about the caves, especially the Buddhist worship hall known as the “Vishwakarma cave.” Immersing herself in family history, oral traditions, and works by archaeologists, art historians, scholars of Buddhism, Indologists, and Sanskritists, in Cave of my Ancestors Narayan set out to answer the question of how this cave came to be venerated as the home of Vishwakarma, the god of making in Hindu and Buddhist traditions. Part scholarship, part detective story, and memoir, Narayan's book leads readers through centuries of history, offering a sensitive meditation on devotion, wonder, and all that connects us to place, family, the past, and the divine. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/south-asian-studies

On the podcast today I am joined by Kirin Narayan, emerita professor at the College of Asia and the Pacific at the Australian National University. Kirin is joining me to talk about her new book, Cave of my Ancestors: Vishwakarma and the Artisans of Ellora published by Chicago University Press in 2024, and in 2025 as an Indian edition by HarperCollins India. As a young girl in Bombay, Kirin Narayan was enthralled by her father's stories about how their ancestors had made the ancient rock-cut cave temples at Ellora. Recalling those stories as an adult, she was inspired to learn more about the caves, especially the Buddhist worship hall known as the “Vishwakarma cave.” Immersing herself in family history, oral traditions, and works by archaeologists, art historians, scholars of Buddhism, Indologists, and Sanskritists, in Cave of my Ancestors Narayan set out to answer the question of how this cave came to be venerated as the home of Vishwakarma, the god of making in Hindu and Buddhist traditions. Part scholarship, part detective story, and memoir, Narayan's book leads readers through centuries of history, offering a sensitive meditation on devotion, wonder, and all that connects us to place, family, the past, and the divine. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/art

Spirituality and success are not mutually exclusive endeavors. You don't have to give up all your possessions and move to a cave in India to meditate in solitude in order to find happiness. Steve Jobs showed us that you can be spiritual and successful. He showed us how spirituality can actually lead to greater success. And he shared how spirituality actually led to him being able to enjoy instead of losing himself in the insatiable desire for more.In this podcast, I share the 3 most important lessons Steve Jobs taught us about spiritual success. I discuss how we can all implement the lessons he learned for manifesting our dreams. And I talk about how to use spirituality for greater clarity, to handle stress better, and for tapping into our highest wisdom and creativity.Please 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.*****If you ever feel like my words brought a change in your life, and want to show your SUPPORT for what I am doing, click here. Find all of my BOOKS for wherever you are on your spiritual journey: https://www.eastwesticism.org/spiritual-meditation-books/Want to gift a book to a prisoner? Go here.

In this episode, Emily McAteer, a homeopathic veterinarian from Ireland, talks about her path from conventional practice to holistic care, sparked by a remarkable experience treating her son's hay fever. She explains the link between the health of pets and their guardians, the benefits of integrating homeopathy with conventional treatments, and the growing interest in alternative medicine among younger vets. Emily also reflects on the value of collaboration within the veterinary community and shares her plans for the upcoming British Association of Homeopathic Veterinary Surgeons Conference, where she will present her work and connect with fellow practitioners. Episode Highlights: 02:51 - The Overnight Transformation in Her Son's Health 04:17 - The Search for a Missing Piece in Animal Healing 06:59 - How a Guardian's Health Can Affect Their Pet's Well-being 10:11 - Becoming Junior Vice President of the BAVH  12:21 - Signs of Renewed Interest in Homeopathy 13:39 - Details on the BAHVS Conference 18:07 - Administering Remedies to Animals 21:32 - Buddhism and Its Influence on Veterinary Practice 25:07 - The Bond Between Pets and Their Guardians 27:39 - Homeopathy's Growth in Ireland About my Guests: Emily McAteer is a Dublin-based veterinarian who owns and runs an integrative practice combining holistic and conventional approaches, with a special focus on homeopathy. Introduced to the practice by her uncle, a Homeopathic GP in Yorkshire, Emily's passion was sparked when she used it successfully to treat her children—and later witnessed its remarkable results in animals. A graduate of University College Dublin in Veterinary Medicine (1990), she has been using homeopathy in her practice for over 20 years. She earned her MFHom from the Integrative School of Medicine in Bristol in 2018, later qualified through the Irish School of Homeopathy to treat animal guardians, and is currently pursuing postgraduate studies at The Dynamis School for homeopaths. Outside of her veterinary work, Emily loves music festivals, hiking, sea swimming, and traveling in her campervan with her dog. She is the proud mother of three adult children and shares her home with her dog and a “cosmic” cat named Betty Boop. Her mission is to inspire and educate more veterinarians about the power of homeopathy and to unite the profession internationally, supporting the healing of both animals and their guardians. Find out more about Emily Website: https://bahvs.net/ If you would like to support the Homeopathy Hangout Podcast, please consider making a donation by visiting www.EugenieKruger.com and click the DONATE button at the top of the site. Every donation about $10 will receive a shout-out on a future episode. Join my Homeopathy Hangout Podcast Facebook community here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/HelloHomies Follow me on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/eugeniekrugerhomeopathy/ Here is the link to my free 30-minute Homeopathy@Home online course: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vqBUpxO4pZQ&t=438s Upon completion of the course - and if you live in Australia - you can join my Facebook group for free acute advice (you'll need to answer a couple of questions about the course upon request to join): www.facebook.com/groups/eughom

This is a small snippet from a full episode currently up on patreon in which Breht discusses a crucial dimension of a well-lived, meaningful existence, and explicates the transformative power of meditation practice,when done sincerley and consistently over time within an established philosophical and religious framework (as opposed to the stripped down, commodified, bastardized version of it often offered in western capitalist societies). 

This talk invites us to rest in the still point where the breath begins, letting the mind settle into spacious awareness. Through stories of mountain walks, quiet gardens, and the tender bonds between beings, we explore how the world lives within us as much as we live within it. The reflections point toward a deep intimacy with life — one that does not separate self from earth, or heart from sky. In returning to this quiet knowing, we discover a home that has always been here.This talk was given on July 6th at the Heart of Wisdom Zen Temple Sunday Night Program. ★ Support this podcast ★

Dharma talk by Melissa Myozen Blacker, Rōshi, on April 26, 2025

Part Two: Breht listens to, comments on, and expounds upon a public lecture by  the late professor of philosophy Rick Roderick from 1989 on Hegel, Marx, and modern American capitalism. Along the way he discusses the central role of reproductive labor, the dialectic of feminism in the US across the last century, identifying with your job under capitalism, reactionary psychology and understanding the joy they take in cruelty, the insane irony of "Make America Great Again" under both Reagan and Trump, the prescience of Professor Roderick, socially necessary labor, and more. Finally, Breht opines at length on a crucial and often overlooked dimension of a truly present, meaningful life. ---------------------------------------------------- Support Rev Left and get access to bonus episodes: www.patreon.com/revleftradio Make a one-time donation to Rev Left at BuyMeACoffee.com/revleftradio Follow, Subscribe, & Learn more about Rev Left Radio: https://revleftradio.com/ outro music 'Mooncakes' by Spinitch find and support more of their work here: https://spinitch.bandcamp.com/album/com-postables-4-dessert  

Freddie once signed to a major record label. He appeared in high-production music videos and looked set for fame. But the pressure and pace of that life left him feeling hollow. In one of the world's busiest cities, he now follows a very different path - one built on silence, discipline, and spiritual growth. Freddie reflects on his decision to leave the music industry behind and embrace Buddhism. He now works as a nail technician and shares how his beliefs shape his daily life. Alongside him is Carl, his partner, who offers moving insights into how their shared values deepen their relationship. We step into Freddie and Carl's world, where Buddhist practice offers an anchor amid chaos. Their story explores what it means to redefine success, maintain spiritual discipline in a hyperactive city, and find peace through faith. This episode of The Documentary, comes to you from Heart and Soul, exploring personal approaches to spirituality from around the world.

Today's guest, Dominic Califano, of San Diego, was a timid kid who struggled to make good friends. When he started chanting Nam-myoho-renge-kyo, however, he discovered in himself the courage and compassion to develop lasting friendship. In today's episode, we discuss what real friendship looks like and how we can cultivate the kinds of friendship that help us grow and become happy.Watch today's episode on our YouTube Channel. Resources:“Three Tripitaka Masters Pray for Rain,” The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin, vol. 1, p. 598.The Wisdom for Creating Happiness and Peace, part 3, revised edition, p. 106.The Power of Friendship

Opening our hearts in practice, Trudy Goodman takes us through her Jellyroll meditation to encourage the expansion of metta from the self to others.Today's podcast is brought to you by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at betterhelp.com/beherenow and get on your way to being your best self.In this episode, Trudy Goodman illuminates:The heart's natural capacity to love and heal—reclaiming our birthright to compassionBeginning metta (lovingkindness) practice with those we deeply love and who love us in returnFeeling into the warmth, care, and well-wishes from those we visualize in our meditationSoftening the mental walls that block us from receiving love and emotional supportPowerful metta phrases to offer ourselves and othersEmbracing radical self-love—accepting ourselves just as we areExpanding lovingkindness to those we feel neutral about, widening our circle of careExtending compassion and goodwill even toward those we struggle withUsing the power of imagination to radiate boundless love to all beings everywhereThis recording was originally published on Dharmaseed.About Trudy Goodman:Trudy is a Vipassana teacher in the Theravada lineage and the Founding Teacher of InsightLA. For 25 years, in Cambridge, MA, Trudy practiced mindfulness-based psychotherapy with children, teenagers, couples and individuals. Trudy conducts retreats, engages in activism work, and teaches workshops worldwide and online. She is also the voice of Trudy the Love Barbarian in the Netflix series, The Midnight Gospel. You can learn more about Trudy's flourishing array of wonderful offerings at TrudyGoodman.com “It's also a great practice to offer some loving kindness to the difficult parts of yourself. The parts you wish you could just have an 'ectomy' and get rid of them. A shame-ectomy or a blame-ectomy, whatever parts of yourself you find difficult to love, just hold them in some tenderness and care." – Trudy GoodmanSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Spiritual growth takes many forms for independent musicians. Folk artist Eli Lev has woven together influences from Jewish upbringing, Buddhism, and Navajo teachings into a unique artistic journey that took him through 250 shows last year alone.   In this third appearance on the podcast, Eli opens up about the realities of intensive touring, the "entry and exit friction" that comes with constant travel, and how he maintains spiritual and personal well-being while building his Levatators community. We discuss this and his upcoming "Past Lives" EP, as well as his live video for "Where We Come From," shot in a restored 1765 log home on Maryland's Trial Run Farm.   Rather than saving the tough questions for the end, we flip the script and start with what's really slowing him down and the pain he's willing to embrace for his art. Eli shares insights on working with multiple producers, the evolution from his completed Four Directions project to this new spiritual exploration, and how his exposure to diverse faiths influences both his songwriting and his approach to building authentic community with fans.   Whether you're interested in tour sustainability, expressing personal themes in your music, or looking to build deeper connections with your audience, Eli's journey from teaching on the Navajo Nation to becoming a full-time touring artist offers practical wisdom and philosophical depth.   Key Topics: Managing the physical and emotional toll of 250+ shows annually Weaving diverse spiritual influences into cohesive songwriting Building the Levatators fan community through authentic connection Working with multiple producers across different projects The "entry and exit friction" of intensive touring Creating meaningful music videos in historic locations Support the Unstarving Musician The Unstarving Musician exists solely through the generosity of its listeners, readers, and viewers. Learn how you can offer your support at UnstarvingMusician.com/CrowdSponsor.  check out one of our affiliates below. This episode of the was powered by Liner Notes. Learn from the hundreds of musicians and industry pros I've spoken with for the Unstarving Musician on topics such as marketing, songwriting, touring, sync licensing and much more. Sign up for Liner Notes. Liner Notes is an email newsletter from yours truly, in which I share some of the best knowledge gems garnered from the many conversations featured on the Unstarving Musician. You'll also be privy to the latest podcast episodes and Liner Notes subscriber exclusives. Sign up at UnstarvingMusician.com/LinerNotes. It's free and you can unsubscribe at anytime. Resources The Unstarving Musician's Guide to Getting Paid Gigs, by Robonzo Libsyn Podcast Hosting Kit – Email Marketing for Musicians Music Marketing Method – The program that helps musicians find fans, grow an audience and make consistent income Bandzoogle – The all-in-one platform that makes it easy to build a beautiful website for your music Dreamhost – See the latest deals from Dreamhost, save money and support the UM in the process. More Resources for musicians Pardon the Interruption (Disclosure)  Some of the links in this post are affiliate links. This means I make a small commission, at no extra charge to you, if you purchase using those links. Thanks for your support! Stay in touch! @RobonzoDrummer on  Instagram @UnstarvingMusician on Facebook  and  YouTube 

One of the most popular and widely practiced forms of Buddhism revolves around "Pure Lands". The ever popular Western Pure Land and Buddha Amitabha are the ones most people practice in with Buddhism. Learn more about this important and popular Buddhist practice and tradition.Read the article: https://alanpeto.com/buddhism/buddhist-cosmology/Contact Alan: alanpeto.com/contactWatch the video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wxZ-CoGk6WkPodcast Homepage: alanpeto.com/podcastPodcast Disclaimer: alanpeto.com/legal/podcast-disclaimer

This is a small snippet from a full episode currently up on patreon in which Breht discusses a crucial dimension of a well-lived, meaningful existence, and explicates the transformative power of meditation practice,when done sincerley and consistently over time within an established philosophical and religious framework (as opposed to the stripped down, commodified, bastardized version of it often offered in western capitalist societies). 

Witnessing the suffering of others can be deeply painful. In this guided meditation, Anushka Fernandopulle helps you cultivate both compassion and the ability to soothe yourself in the face of that pain.How to Do This Practice: Find somewhere peaceful, sit down and get comfortable. Once you're ready, gently close or soften your eyes. Start taking deep breaths and relax your body. Part by part, release tension in different areas of your body. Think of someone or a group of people you know or have heard of who may be having a hard time. Bring to mind an image of them. Connect with whatever it is they are struggling with. Mentally, make some wishes of compassion for them. For example, “May you be free from pain.” Or, “I am here with you.” You can also use this practice to focus on your own pain. To do this, call to mind your struggles and give yourself the same compassion you gave others. Scroll down for a transcription of this episode. Today's Happiness Break guide:ANUSHKA FERNANDOPULLE is a meditation teacher who trained in Buddhist meditation for over 30 years. After studying Buddhism at Harvard, she spent four years in full-time meditation training in the U.S., India, and Sri Lanka.Check out Anushka's upcoming meditation retreats: https://www.anushkaf.orgFollow Anushka on Instagram: https://tinyurl.com/ytn3vvhzCheck out Anushka's Dharma Talks: https://tinyurl.com/ydacvamnRelated Happiness Break episodes:Fierce Self-Compassion Break: https://tinyurl.com/yk9yzh9uWho Takes Care of You: https://tinyurl.com/5xmfkf73A Self-Compassion Meditation For Burnout: https://tinyurl.com/485y3b4yRelated Science of Happiness episodes:How Holding Yourself Can Reduce Stress: https://tinyurl.com/2hvhkwe6How To Show Up For Yourself: https://tinyurl.com/56ktb9xcAre You Remembering the Good Times: https://tinyurl.com/483bkk2hWe'd love to hear about your experience with this practice! Share your thoughts at happinesspod@berkeley.edu or use the hashtag #happinesspod.Find us on Apple Podcasts: https://tinyurl.com/2p9h5aapHelp us share Happiness Break! Leave a 5-star review and share this link: https://tinyurl.com/2p9h5aapTranscription: https://tinyurl.com/2tcp2an9

Renowned meditation teacher, Joseph Goldstein, shares timeless insights on the mind, suffering, and the heart of why we meditate.This episode is brought to you by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at betterhelp.com/insighthour and get on your way to being your best selfIn this episode, Joseph Goldstein offers his perspective on:The many reasons why we meditateHow we all filter our experiences through our own particular conditioning and background Unpacking the Dhammapada's teaching: “Mind is the forerunner of all actions”Using meditation to understand the patterns and nature of our own mindsStrengthening mental stability and inner resilience through practiceCultivating present-moment awareness instead of being swept away by emotionsConsidering what qualities of heart and mind are being cultivated in all that we doA powerful reminder: Don't waste your suffering—transform pain into wisdomDeepening insight into the impermanent nature of all experiencesThe difference between attachment and commitment The Buddhist concept of nonself and freeing our minds from identificationThis recording from Spirit Rock's April 2025 Insight Meditation retreat was originally published on Dharmaseed.“We meditate to come out of confusion, to come out of all our habitual reactions into a space of greater wisdom, of greater clarity. We begin to see much more clearly what actually is going on in our experience rather than being lost in it. We begin to see what it is that's shaping our lives.” – Joseph GoldsteinSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

 This Teisho was given by the Reverend Karen Do'on Weik Roshi at the Buddhist Temple of Toledo on June 19, 2024. In this talk Do'on Roshi discusses the 48th case from the Mumonkan (aka The Gateless Gate) known as Kempo's One Way.   If you would like to learn more about the Buddhist Temple of Toledo or to make a donation in support of this podcast please visit buddhisttempleoftoledo.org.   Part of Reverand Do'on's Teisho on the Mumonkan series.

In this rich and often humorous talk from the 1990s, Jack explores the art of letting go as the gateway to freedom, inviting us into the coolness of nirvana, and the wholeness found only here and now.Join the Year of Awakening with Jack Kornfield for a monthly group livestream Q&A hang with Jack, along with weekly modules and prompts to keep your life focused on awakening!“This freedom is not far away, the freedom of the heart is here, and it's inviting. Nirvana is inviting.” – Jack KornfieldIn this episode, Jack mindfully explores:The end of exile as a return to the present momentPure awareness and the cycles of lifeWhere is freedom found?Letting go vs. letting beThe dignity of just being an earthwormNirvana as a public health measureThe coolness of nirvana and release from graspingHow ‘periodic nirvana' keeps us aliveRam Dass, Stephen Levine, surrender, and choosing your spiritBodhicitta as the heart of emptiness and compassionDon Juan's “controlled folly” and Zen paradoxFinding wholeness in grief, struggle, and beautyEach moment as a chance for struggle or freedomThe goal of practice as keeping our beginner's mindThis very moment as the only place of freedom“If we allow ourselves to stay in the reality of the present, not only does there come a reclaiming of this life, but we also discover this emptiness or spaciousness that holds it all. No matter how painful, beautiful, exalted, or difficult—it arises and moves in its cycle back into wholeness.” – Jack KornfieldThis Dharma Talk recorded on desert retreat in the 1990s was originally published on DharmaSeed.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.“Just let go, let go, let go. I did nothing but this in my practice for years. Every time I tried to understand or figure things out, I'd say, ‘Let go, let go,' until that desire would fade away. … Just be an earthworm who knows only two words, ‘Let go, let go…'” – Jack KornfieldSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

“'I think that's just how life panned out. I had children and it was difficult to have a relationship with a man who was not the father. And I started thinking, OK, I'll take care of the children and then when they're grown up, I'll be available for a partner. But then I found, I have to say, the great serenity of being single.'” She pauses, as if to savour the words. “'And if I hadn't, I don't think I would have been able to do all that I've done. I have freedom of movement.'”—Isabella Rossellini    When I recently read Isabella Rosselini's quote shared above about why she, initially unconsciously, and then consciously chosen to live alone, referring to not having a romantic partner, for over 30 years, I spontaneously found myself smiling in appreciation of her candor and openness to discovering the gifts that life wants to share with us if only we would let go of narrow constructs of how one's life must look. The value we give our lives when we understand how to find serenity for ourselves, is revolutionary because we give ourselves the reins, or should I say the recipe, for exactly what will bring us peace. The concept of serenity lies at the heart of what we feel when we are living a life of contentment. And as has been shared regularly here on TSLL, each of us will cultivate our life structure - relationships, responsibilities, rituals, routines, excursions, home life, etc. - differently to nurture ourselves well in order to be able to live, express and engage fully. Too often no variation is given to certain ingredients in one's life in order to find or be at peace. If we do find peace without these purported to be 'must-have's, as Rosselini has demonstrated, society can gang up on us to pressure us or make us doubt our own inner truth. But whether or not to live with another person, specifically a romantic partner, is indeed a variable, not a constant, in the many variations available to us as we cultivate our unique life to discover where contentment resides. Back in 2015, podcast episode #33 - How to Live Alone Well - was shared and included 16 approaches and benefits of doing so. While I won't repeat those benefits in this episode, and I encourage you to explore them, it is now ten years on, and as TSLL readers know, I continue to live alone by choice. A choice, a priority for living the life where and how I find true contentment. Of course, many listeners/readers who know me, know I am not really alone as I live with my pups and have done so for all but three years of my adult life. For me, this is also a choice because my dogs let me just be, and I have not yet found a human being who is comfortable with letting me just be. In other words, giving me freedom along with trust, so that the home that is a sanctuary is indeed that for all inhabitants. So today's episode will dive a bit deeper, sharing the joys of this way of living and savoring immensely everyday life - alone and delightfully so. Briefly just alluded to - what you will notice as an intentional undercurrent in all of these joys shared today is freedom. When we give ourself the freedom to choose what is most nourishing and nutritive for our well-being, we step closer to living a life of contentment, if we aren't already. Ultimately, as we talked about in episode #403 - 10 Ways Integrating Buddhist Psychology into Your Everyday Life Cultivates Contentment - the core purpose of Buddhism is to bring deep healing, well-being and inner freedom. So whether you are living alone by choice or by circumstance, the time you do live alone has the opportunity through this freedom to become intimately in tune with yourself so you can ascertain with clarity and self-trust how you want to live your life so that it is grounded in contentment. Let's take a look at this list of 8 Joys of living alone. Tune in to the episode and find the Show Notes here on TSLL blog - https://thesimplyluxuriouslife.com/podcast407 

After being violently attacked outside a bar, a man who spent his life motivated by loneliness and rage, begins forging a new path to peace and healing through Buddhism and awakening to the thread that connects us all. Today's episode featured Cesar Cardona. If you'd like to reach out to Cesar, you can email him at cesarspeak6@gmail.com. Cesar's socials: IG- @beautyinthebreakpod // @TikTok - Beautyinthebreak Find out more about Cesar at his website: https://cesarcardona.com/A special thanks to Scott Johnson, Host of the What Was That Like podcast“real people in unreal situations”: WhatWasThatLike.com, who brought us Cesar's story. Producers: Whit Missildine, Andrew Waits, Cathy Sitzes Content/Trigger Warnings: divorce, gang activity, criminal activity including drugs and violence with weapons, racism, brutal assault including kicking & stomping, severe facial injuries in the mouth, punctured organ injury, heavy alcohol use, explicit language Social Media:Instagram: @actuallyhappeningTwitter: @TIAHPodcast Website: thisisactuallyhappening.com Website for Andrew Waits: andrdewwaits.comWebsite for Cathy Sitzes: cathysitzes.com Support the Show: Support The Show on Patreon: patreon.com/happening Wondery Plus: All episodes of the show prior to episode #130 are now part of the Wondery Plus premium service. To access the full catalog of episodes, and get all episodes ad free, sign up for Wondery Plus at wondery.com/plus Shop at the Store: The This Is Actually Happening online store is now officially open. Follow this link: thisisactuallyhappening.com/shop to access branded t-shirts, posters, stickers and more from the shop. Transcripts: Full transcripts of each episode are now available on the website, thisisactuallyhappening.com Intro Music: “Sleep Paralysis” - Scott VelasquezMusic Bed: Uncertain Outcomes ServicesIf you or someone you know is struggling with the effects of trauma or mental illness, please refer to the following resources: National Suicide and Crisis Lifeline: Text or Call 988 National Alliance on Mental Illness: 1-800-950-6264National Sexual Assault Hotline (RAINN): 1-800-656-HOPE (4673)See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.