Podcasts about Tibetan Buddhism

Continuing their discussion on Tibetan Buddhism and Tulku Urgyen Rinpoche's lineage, David Silver and Raghu Markus chat about carrying forward the wisdom of great masters.Check out part 1 of this conversation on Ep. 627 of the Mindrolling Podcast and grab a copy of Tulku Urgyen Rinpoche's memoirs, Blazing Splendor, for a deeper look into his magnificent life. In this episode, Raghu and David chat about:Being guided toward unconditional love, selflessness, and devotion to the Divine MotherThe role of lineage holders and treasure revealers in Tibetan BuddhismTulku Urgyen's unique style of teachingDeep humility as an essential spiritual practiceHow ‘being here now' becomes a gateway to embodied wisdomReleasing skepticism and misunderstanding around the concept of a guruHonoring great spiritual masters and transmitting their wisdom across generationsThe powerful film, Tibet: Cry of the Snow LionReaching a state of deathlessness and timeless awarenessStarting our day with compassion for ourselves and others“As soon as I wake up in the morning, I remind myself that nothing exists as it appears. Then I think about sentient beings who want happiness, but experience suffering. I generate compassion for them, determined to help them as much as I can to eliminate their negative emotions.” –The Dalai LamaAbout David Silver:David Silver is the former co-host of the Mindrolling podcast. He is a filmmaker and director, most recently coming out with Brilliant Disguise. Brilliant Disguise tells the unique story of a group of inspired Western spiritual seekers from the 60s, who in meeting the great American teacher, Ram Dass, followed him to India to meet his Guru, Neem Karoli Baba, familiarly known as Maharaj-ji. Two days before he left his body, Maharaj-ji instructed K.C. Tewari to take care of the Westerners, which he did resolutely until the day he died in 1997. Silver's #1 charting MGM/UA/Warners film, “The Compleat Beatles” is the critically acclaimed biopic movie about history's most famous band. The term ‘rockumentary' was first applied to this two-hour movie. Rolling Stone recently described the film as a “masterwork.” Silver's Warner Brothers' feature film, “No Nukes” also started the whole trend of music/activism feature documentaries.“‘Be Here Now' is not only Ram Dass's precept of just be in the present, it's saying, ‘Be here now, and you're everywhere. Be here now, and you're in wisdom.' If you're not here now, you're veering away from wisdom.” — David SilverSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In this episode I am once again joined by Victor Shiryaev a teacher of Buddhist and modern meditation and somatic practices. Victor traces a contemplative history of modern Russia from the days of the esotericism and Orientalism of the Russian Empire, through the religious restrictions of the Soviet Union, the New Age spiritual fervour of the 1990s, and the Westernisation of recent times. Victor considers whether Russia was a mission field for spiritual groups such as the Diamond Way, details the different Buddhist sects active in the country, describes how meditation is viewed in Russian culture today, and reflects on the relationship between globalist Buddhist sects and heritage Buddhist groups of the region. … Video version: https://www.guruviking.com/podcast/ep350-contemplative-history-of-modern-russia-victor-shiryaev-2 Also available on Youtube, iTunes, & Spotify – search ‘Guru Viking Podcast'.
 … Topics include: 00:00 - Intro 00:49 - Why a contemplative history of modern Russia? 05:49 - Russian interest in the East and esotericism 07:54 - Buddhist regions of Russia 08:39 - Catherine the Great and empire 10:08 - Persecution of religion under the Soviet Union 11:14 - New Age and spiritual revival in the 1990s 15:22 - Current scene 16:30 - Westernised spirituality in Russia 21:58 - The self publishing movement 23:32 - How the scene became Westernised 27:12 - Shambala and post-Soviet Russia as a mission field 36:21 - Tibetan Buddhism in Russia today 39:40 - Other Buddhist and mindfulness groups in Russia 41:43 - Vipassana and the lack of a retreat scene 45:41 - Heritage Buddhists vs the new Buddhists 56:21 - Russian esotericism and the Soviet Union 01:04:41 - How is meditation viewed in Russia today? 01:12:06 - Modern mindfulness in Russia 01:13:00 - Russian Orthodox Christianity and the future of Buddhism in Russia Previous episode with Victor Shiryaev: - https://www.guruviking.com/search?q=shiryaev To find out more about Victor Shiryaev, visit: - https://victorshiryaev.co/ … For more interviews, videos, and more visit: - www.guruviking.com Music ‘Deva Dasi' by Steve James

In this episode I am once again joined by Alex W, long term practitioner of Zen, Pragmatic Dharma, and Western Occultism. Alex takes a deep dive into the world of magick to compare esoteric systems from around the world including Western Occultism, Tibetan Buddhism, Indian Tantric and Goddess systems, Santeria and more. Alex gives a history of the development of Western Occultism, exploring the Egyptian mysteries, Neoplatonism, Catholic mysticism, Kabbalah, Shi'ism, Wicca, the Golden Dawn, Thelema, Chaos Magic and beyond. Alex discusses esoteric techniques such spellcraft, opening the psychic senses, working with entities, mantra, yantra, alchemy, astrology, and divination. He considers the tension between natural talent and practiced skill, reviews strategies for protection against curses and entity oppression, and recounts his own path as a practitioner of the occult. … Full episode: https://www.guruviking.com/podcast/ep349-deep-dive-into-magick-alex-w Also available on Youtube, iTunes, & Spotify – search ‘Guru Viking Podcast'.
 … Topics include: 00:00 - Intro 01:09 - History of magick 06:08 - Christianity as a reinterpretation of Egyptian mysteries of Osiris 06:40 - Syncretism of the Golden Dawn 08:48 - Thelema 09:50 - English vs French magick 11:10 - Wicca 12:55 - Chaos Magic 16:04 - Belief and manifestation 19:26 - Theory vs practice 20:52 - Neoplatonism 22:54 - Kabbalah 29:09 - Shi'ism, Sufism, and the Church fathers 30:42 - Renaissance 32:36 - Not superstition? 33:53 - Alex's magick path 35:32 - Training under Alan Chapman 38:21 - Scrying and the Holy Guardian Angel 40:10 - What is the HGA? 46:04 - The real initiation of Western Occultism 47:37 - Santeria and spirits 51:16- Exploring the Renaissance grimoires 54:56 - Catholic mysticism, angels, and saints 56:25 - Spellcraft 57:25 - Hinduism and Buddhist magick 01:03:33 - Mantra 01:07:29 - Yantras and Indo-European astrology 01:10:15 - Tantra as a ritual process to effect change and invoke spirits 01:11:34 - Ramnath Aghori Baba  01:12:51 - How Goddess traditions work 01:19:13 - Initiated by Kālī and the Dark Feminine 01:25:21 - Opening the psychic senses 01:27:19 - Kālī, Chinnamastā, and the Dark Feminine 01:30:41 - Hecate 01:33:10 - Dark spirits, ḍākinīs, and the 64 yogis 01:37:19 - Network of friends 01:41:06 - Past lives 01:42:38 - Astrology 01:46:12 - Which practice is right for you? 01:47:42 - Alchemy 01:48:46 - Why practice magick? 01:53:14 - Divination and protection against curses 01:54:28 - 3 magickal self defence methods 02:02:10 - How common are curses? 02:05:26 - Why seek the Western Tradition? 02:12:08 - Indian vs Tibetan tantra 02:15:29 - Is magick well understood? 02:20:34 - Talent, lineage, and technique 02:22:44 - Crowley's birthchart 02:27:32 - Alan & Duncan's relationship 02:29:08 - Dangers 02:35:089 - Spiritual psychosis 02:37:50 - Devotion … Previous episodes with Alex W: - https://www.guruviking.com/search?q=alex For more interviews, videos, and more visit: - www.guruviking.com Music ‘Deva Dasi' by Steve James

This guided meditation takes us through different ways of observing the mind, first examining its ever-present parts: perception, feeling, will, and awareness. Then we explore the nature of subjective reality itself by asking what is the mind without thoughts? Where is the space of our consciousness? And, how finely can we slice moments of consciousness? Do we ever arrive at a quantum of consciousness?Episode 7. Guided Meditation: What Is the Mind?Themes:Watching your thoughtsFree willWhat is consciousnessFinding peaceMind-body connectionBuddhist philosophyCultivating joyWatch the episode on our YouTube channelIf you'd like to practice with others and bring these ideas into your life, join our weekly meditation community with Scott.

Jason McDonald is an artist currently based in Melbourne, Australia.He completed his BA (Hons) Graphic Design 1995. Since then he has lived and worked in London, Singapore, Bangkok and Melbourne.McDonald has undertaken advanced studies in consciousness, including practitioner accreditation in energetic field work, research grade brainwave state monitoring in the field of neuroscience, Meditation Teacher training and extensive education and practices in Tibetan Buddhism, Korean Buddhism,Anthroposophy, Esoteric creativity and other wisdom traditions.He is also deeply informed by over 20 years of meditative & spiritual practice.His work deals with consciousness, transcendence and beauty and is at the frontier of synthesizing and anchoring energy, aesthetics, inspiration and the way in which spirit moves through art as a resource for growth and evolution.https://www.jasonwmcdonald.com/Follow Martin Benson for more insights:*To stay updated on the podcast and related content, check out ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠my websitewww.martinLbenson.com*To support the show and access exclusive content, consider subscribing for $0.99/month on Instagram (link available from website).Credits: Special thanks to Matthew Blankenship of ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Sometimes Island⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for our podcast theme music!Support this podcast: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/martin-l-benson/support⁠⁠⁠⁠

In Part 2 of our conversation with Sofia May, she continues sharing her experiences connected to Tara Mandala and the community around lama Tsultrim Allione. We get into the messy, nuanced territory where Buddhist teachings, spiritual leadership, and real-world power dynamics intersect. We explore what draws people to Tibetan Buddhist communities and retreat centers in the first place, and how things can get complicated when reverence, hierarchy, and human behavior collide. Sofia shared her perspective on navigating doubt, loyalty, and disillusionment, and what happens when your spiritual home starts raising hard questions instead of providing easy answers.We also zoom out to look at broader patterns across guru-centered and high-demand spiritual communities, including teacher-student dynamics, accountability gaps, community pressure, and spiritual bypassing. This conversation isn't about flattening every Buddhist or Tara Mandala experience into one story, but about building discernment, consent, and self-trust when engaging with any spiritual teacher or organization. If you've ever wrestled with concerns about a spiritual leader or practice community, this one's for you.Be sure to check out the article in Guru Magazine in which Sofia May first shares her Tara Mandala experience, and follow her comedy journey on Instagram or TikTok @sofiamaycomedy.Trigger warning: This episode contains frank discussion of child and sexual abuse, coercive influence, and religious/spiritual trauma.Also…let it be known that:The views and opinions expressed on A Little Bit Culty do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the podcast. Any content provided by our guests, bloggers, sponsors or authors are of their opinion and are not intended to malign any religion, group, club, organization, business, individual, anyone or anything. Nobody's mad at you, just don't be a culty fuckwad.**PRE-ORDER Sarah and Nippy's newest book hereCheck out our amazing sponsorsJoin A Little Bit Culty on PatreonGet poppin' fresh ALBC SwagSupport the pod and smash this linkCheck out our cult awareness and recovery resourcesWatch Sarah's TED Talk and buy her memoir, ScarredCREDITS:Executive Producers: Sarah Edmondson & Anthony AmesProduction Partner: Citizens of SoundCo-Creator: Jess TardyAudio production: Will RetherfordProduction Coordinator: Lesli DinsmoreWriter: Sandra NomotoSocial media team: Eric Skwarzynski and Brooke KeaneTheme Song: “Cultivated” by Jon Bryant co-written with Nygel AsselinSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Gayathri Narayanan is the founder of Myndtree and a contemplative guide whose work centers on integrating deep inner inquiry with the realities of modern life. With more than three decades of sustained practice and study, she brings together the wisdom of the Narayana Guru lineage, as transmitted through her own Guru, Nitya Chaitanya Yati, with secular mindfulness and lived inquiry. Her grounding lies in Advaita Vedanta and Yoga, supported by long-term study of classical texts including the Upanishads, the Bhagavad Gita, Patanjali's Yoga Sutras, and key works of Narayana Guru such as Ātmopadeśa Śatakam and Darśanamālā. Over time, her path expanded to include sustained study and practice in Buddhist traditions, with particular depth in Theravada teachings through close study with Gil Fronsdal, as well as engagement with Zen through teachings with Reb Anderson. More recently, she has begun studying Tibetan Buddhism with Anam Thubten.https://www.myndtree.org/

If the mind is our thoughts, then what is it that observes those thoughts? What are we without thoughts? Do we ever truly see an object, or only its mental reconstruction? Though we are all convinced that we have one, science has no agreed definition for consciousness or mind. Even subjectively, the mind is elusive, difficult to pin to any specific mental experience.Episode 6. What Is the Mind?Themes:Body-mind dualityInterdependenceConsciousnessNoticing your thoughtsHow to be presentThe mind's 4 mental factorsPsychologyWatch this episode on our YouTube channelIf you'd like to practice with others and bring these ideas into your life, join our weekly meditation community with Scott.

In Part 1 of this conversation with stand-up comedian and former Tara Mandala practitioner Sofia May, she joins us to talk about how a beautiful Tibetan Buddhist retreat center in the Colorado mountains—founded by western author lama Tsultrim Allione—slowly revealed a deeply culty underbelly beneath the goddess imagery and tantric empowerment language. Sofia traces her path from sincere Buddhist seeker to close student of lama Tsultrim inside Tara Mandala's residential community. She describes the powerful draw of the center's practices, trauma‑informed branding, and female‑centered spirituality, and how all that coexisted with secrecy, hierarchy, and a guru culture where doubt was pathologized and obedience was framed as devotion.We also get into the day‑to‑day dynamics at Tara Mandala—unpaid or underpaid labor justified as spiritual service, pressure to attend costly retreats and trainings, complex power plays in teacher–student relationships, and how survivors are now comparing notes about gaslighting, spiritual bypassing, and psychological harm in a place that promised healing above all. You'll want to read the article in Guru Magazine in which Sofia May first shared her experience, and stay tuned for Part 2.And be sure to follow Sofia May's comedy journey on Instagram or TikTok @sofiamaycomedy.Trigger warning: This episode contains frank discussion of sexual abuse and violence, spiritual and psychological abuse, financial and labor exploitation misogyny and boundary violations, and trauma.Also…let it be known that:The views and opinions expressed on A Little Bit Culty do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the podcast. Any content provided by our guests, bloggers, sponsors or authors are of their opinion and are not intended to malign any religion, group, club, organization, business, individual, anyone or anything. Nobody's mad at you, just don't be a culty fuckwad.**PRE-ORDER Sarah and Nippy's newest book hereCheck out our amazing sponsorsJoin A Little Bit Culty on PatreonGet poppin' fresh ALBC SwagSupport the pod and smash this linkCheck out our cult awareness and recovery resourcesWatch Sarah's TED Talk and buy her memoir, ScarredCREDITS:Executive Producers: Sarah Edmondson & Anthony AmesProduction Partner: Citizens of SoundCo-Creator: Jess TardyAudio production: Will RetherfordProduction Coordinator: Lesli DinsmoreWriter: Sandra NomotoSocial media team: Eric Skwarzynski and Brooke KeaneTheme Song: “Cultivated” by Jon Bryant co-written with Nygel AsselinSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

“When the mind has achieved absolute calm and silence, it can concentrate on the Inner Self. This concentration is done with the help of prayer. Pray to your Inner Self. Try to converse with your Inner Self. Remember that praying is conversing with God. You can pray without formulae; in other words, talk to God: tell him what your heart feels with infinite love.” —Samael Aun Weor, Introduction to Gnosis While sincerity takes precedence over scripted prayer, many religious traditions like Tibetan Buddhism still preserve beautiful exemplars of how to pray to, provide offerings for, and develop a personal relationship with divinity. Although languages and forms differ, the principles of prayer are universal. Therefore, they are useful to study and practice no matter one's faith, denomination, or creed. This lecture examines the path and qualities of a bodhisattva as taught by Shantideva and Gnostic masters, focusing on initiation, bodhicitta, prayer, and selfless service to humanity. Explore practical methods and esoteric symbols: the Tree of Life, the five lower initiations, sexual alchemy, the six paramitas, and the mantra Om Masi Padme Hum, all of which emphasize meditation, introspection, and ethical transformation. By examining Shantideva's confessional prayers, one discovers the upright attitude and longings of a bodhisattva: an initiate who perfects bodhichitta, renounces heavenly power, and aspires to the spiritual heights to better serve suffering humanity. These reflections on humility and sacrifice can guide students to develop more patience, concentration, and wisdom to truly help others and incarnate the Christic force within. See also what how any spiritual student can cultivate bodhichitta on a daily basis. Resources and References: https://chicagognosis.org/lectures/the-aspirations-initiations-and-humble-confessions-of-a-bodhisattva

In this episode, I am joined by Dr Christopher “Hareesh” Wallis, a Sanskritist and scholar-practitioner of Classical Tantra. Christopher recounts his unusual upbringing, early meetings with Osho and Muktananda, early shaktipat experiences, and powerful spiritual awakenings. Christopher traces his educational journey under professors such as Douglas Brooks and Alexis G. J. S. Sanderson, offers his opinions about optimal pedagogy for Sanskrit language study, and questions lineage claims made in Tibetan Buddhism. Christopher also considers the tension between religious faith and academic skepticism, explains why he thinks it is possible to receive spiritual benefit from corrupt gurus, and descries why he believes spiritual awakening leads to a deep trust in the unfolding of life. … Video version: www.guruviking.com Also available on Youtube, iTunes, & Spotify – search ‘Guru Viking Podcast'. … Topics include: 00:00 - Intro 00:57 - An unusual family of origin 03:28 - Mother's conversion to Hinduism 03:50 - Meeting Osho and Swami Muktananda 05:17 - Awakening experience at 16 years old 05:55 - Attraction to Tantric Shaivism 07:35 - Academic training and intellectual infatuation 09:00 - Multiple teachers 10:13 - Seeing through intellectual ego 12:57 - Teenage rebellion and psychedelics 14:44 - Love of sci fi and fantasy 17:05 - Siddha yoga shaktipat 18:33 - Gurumayi Chidvilasananda 20:33 - Heart opening shaktipat 24:01 - Saint or psychopath? 28:26 - The guru's shadow 30:18 - Transmission from a disgraced guru 32:25 - No single objective reality 35:32 - No doubts despite guru's flaws 38:18 - Has Christopher missed the point? 39:53 - Parsing subjective certainty 41:55 - A belief but not really 43:21 - Innate intelligence and trusting the unfolding of life 46:50 - Harmonising with the pattern 50:17 - Don't pretend to be more enlightened that you are 51:56 - The same awakening as the Buddha's 54:22 - Waking up out of your tradition 55:32 - Agnosticism about reincarnation 57:29 - BA at Rochester 01:00:53 - Alexis G. J. S. Sanderson 01:05:40 - Great professors at Rochester 01:08:22 - Learning Sanskrit 01:11:12 - Art of translation 01:13:27 - Sanskrit pedagogy 01:16:42 - Christopher's approach to teaching Sanskrit 01:21:19 - Why learn Sanskrit? 01:24:10 - Parallel primer method 01:26:06 - Does academia ruin religious faith? 01:30:39 - Mantra disillusionment 01:34:40 - Disillusionment with saints and siddhas 01:38:10 - Religious professors 01:39:13 - Debunking tantric lineage claims 01:42:05 - Did Tibetan Buddhists fabricated their lineages? 01:43:10 - Tantric Shaivism as a living tradition 01:46:16 - Is Christopher a lineage holder? 01:48:04 - Critique of lineage holders and lamas … To find our more about Dr Wallis visit: - https://hareesh.org/ For more interviews, videos, and more visit: - https://www.guruviking.com Music ‘Deva Dasi' by Steve James

Peter Ormerod in conversation with David Eastaugh  In this wide-ranging biography, Peter Ormerod explores the quest for spirituality that powered David Bowie's creativity from his earliest recordings to his death-defying final album. Bowie's genre-expanding, era-crossing genius had an extraordinary impact on popular culture but his life-long search for spiritual truth and enlightenment has been overlooked. https://www.bloomsbury.com/uk/david-bowie-and-the-search-for-life-death-and-god-9781399422826/ https://www.amazon.co.uk/David-Bowie-Search-Life-Death   From Bowie's first musical encounters as a choirboy, this book traces his spiritual obsessions over the years. As a young musician at the start of his career, he was enraptured by Tibetan Buddhism. It was the first step in a spiritual journey that would generate his most profound lyrics and music. From the Kabbalah-influenced tracks of Station to Station to Ziggy Stardust's messiah complex and the profound affinity between Heroes and Christian thought, Ormerod sheds new light on the spiritual traditions behind Bowie's genius. 

“It is not more surprising to be born twice than once,” Voltaire once said. In this episode we contemplate the miracle of existing at all, from our place at the end of our universe's 14 billion years' evolution to the simple joy of another 24 hours alive that Thich Nhat Hanh describes.Episode 4: The Preciousness of Life from Cosmos to the KardashiansIn this talk Scott explores:How to appreciate life moreWhy money can't buy you happinessHow to find satisfaction and meaning in your lifeHow to stop worryingWhy meditation is so powerfulHow to become self-awareWatch this episode as a YouTube videoIf you'd like to practice with others and bring these ideas into your life, join our weekly meditation community with Scott.

Dr. John Powers is back for another chat on the show—largely about Tibetan Buddhism, meditation practices, and the nature of self and consciousness. John shared his personal journey into Buddhism, including a transformative experience with the Dalai Lama that led him to explore meditation further—I absolutely loved this part! We also discussed the concept of emptiness in Buddhism, the idea of rebirth and karma, and the challenges of maintaining a sense of self in a constantly changing world (let alone whether or not the ‘self' even exists!). John also explained his atheistic views on God and the importance of empirical evidence in understanding religious concepts. Finally, John and I touched on the similarities between meditation-induced states and those experienced under the influence of psychedelics. It was also really wonderful to hear how John has navigated his transition into (semi) retirement. I thoroughly enjoyed spending time once again with John and look forward to having him back on the show.John Powers currently holds a joint position at the University of Melbourne in the School of Historical and Philosophical Studies and the Contemplative Studies Centre. He is a Fellow of the Australian Academy of Humanities and author of 20 books and more than 100 articles, mainly on Buddhism and Tibetan history.***The Mind Mate Podcast explores the human condition at the intersection of philosophy and psychotherapy. Hosted by counsellor and psychotherapist Tom Ahern, the podcast engages deeply with questions of meaning, anxiety, freedom, identity, death, love, and what it means to live authentically in the modern world.Find out more here: https://ahern.blog/

Losar, the Tibetan Buddhist celebration of New Years, is the most important holiday in Tibetan Buddhism and is focused on putting the old year to rest and starting the New Year fresh.This is Venerable Tarpa's Losar address to the SBT sangha. Venerable Tenzin Tarpa is the founder and director of SBT – The Secular Buddhist Tradition. A fully ordained Buddhist monk and student of The Dalai Lama, Venerable Tarpa is a teacher, author, and philosopher with nearly three decades in Buddhist studies, including a decade in Buddhist monasteries in India. SBT – the Secular Buddhist Tradition, is an international spiritual community dedicated to Secular Buddhism and the timeless wisdom of the Buddha. SBT presents the Buddha's teachings as neither a religion nor exotic belief system, sharing a practical presentation focused on the positive life-affirming message of the Buddha, while emphasizing and prioritizing those aspects that we deem most credible, illuminating, and effective. The aim of SBT is to inform and guide without sharing presumptions of what to believe. Learn more about SBT and Venerable Tarpa at: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠http://SBTonline.org⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠#buddhism⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ #secularbuddhism⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ #meditation ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠#mindfulness⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠#happiness⁠⁠⁠ #Dalailama #spirituality ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

"The ultimate research laboratory is this mind, body, brain, heart."A privilege to introduce Philippe Goldin, PhD – Professor at UC Davis, mindfulness researcher, and a true bridge between science and spirituality.Join us for a delightful and mind-stretching conversation. Philippe's path spans New York City, a deep study of Tibetan Buddhism across India, Nepal, and Tibet, and groundbreaking research in psychology and neuroscience. Today, we explore consciousness, meditation, ethics, intentionality, and how science and spirituality can inform and enhance each other.Philippe also shares his insights on interpersonal neurobiology, empathy, awakening, and how our intentions ripple through the world - plus fascinating stories of translating for Tibetan Lamas, developing global mindfulness programs with Google and Stanford, and pioneering approaches to mental health, workplace wellness, and climate resilience.Key Takeaways:➖ How meditation and science intersect➖ Consciousness, dark matter, and the unseen➖ Ethics and intentionality in practice➖ The ripple effects of empathy and human connection➖ Lifelong curiosity and learning is essentialI absolutely loved listening to Philippe's unique perspective and highly developed expression on science, psychology, and spirituality. I'm sure it will leave you inspired, curious, and maybe even a little mind-blown

Secular Buddhist Essentials is a weekly online program that shares the timeless wisdom of the Buddha. As a Secular Buddhist Organization, SBT offers a practical presentation focused on the positive life-affirming message of the Buddha, while deemphasizing the more religious, mystical, and cultural content found in traditional Buddhism. Our aim is to inform and guide without sharing presumptions of what to believe. Learn more about this program at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://sbtonline.org/sbe/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠  Venerable Tenzin Tarpa is the founder and director of SBT –The Secular Buddhist Tradition. A fully ordained Buddhist monk and student of The Dalai Lama, Venerable Tarpa is a teacher, author, and philosopher with nearly three decades in Buddhist studies, including a decade in Buddhist monasteries in India.  SBT – the Secular Buddhist Tradition, is an international spiritual community dedicated to Secular Buddhism and the timeless wisdom of the Buddha. SBT presents the Buddha's teachings as neither a religion nor exotic belief system, emphasizing and prioritizing those aspects that we deem most credible, illuminating, and effective. Learn more about SBT and Venerable Tarpa at: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠http://SBTonline.org⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠#buddhism ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠#secularbuddhism⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠#meditation ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠#mindfulness⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠#happiness⁠⁠⁠ #Dalailama #spirituality ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠  

In this episode, Sean MacCracken reflects on his experience at the American Academy of Religion, noticing a shift toward more participatory, contemplative, and integrative approaches in religious studies. He discusses his course, Kashmiri Shaivism: Supreme Non-Dualism, highlighting how meditation, contemplation, and embodied practices cultivate awareness, ethical self-reflection, and creative engagement with the world. Sean also explores how his study of Indian philosophy and Tantric traditions opens broader, integral ways of knowing that move beyond reductionist frameworks. He discusses his article, “Regarding Humanism: Some Observations Concerning the Tibetan Buddhist and Transhumanist Dialogue,” showing how Buddhist and Tantric insights deepen our understanding of humanism, development, and collective ethical responsibility. This episode offers listeners a glimpse into how contemplative and Integralist approaches can reshape learning, thinking, and living—showing philosophy as a path toward grounded, ethically engaged, and transformative ways of being in the world. Sean K. MacCracken is adjunct faculty at California Institute of Integral Studies. He recieved a M.A. and Ph.D in Asian and Comparative Studies from CIIS, and a M.A. in Religious Studies from University of Virginia. “Regarding Humanism: Some Observations Concerning the Tibetan Buddhist and Transhumanist Dialogue” https://processcenturypress.com/unprecedented-evolution-continuities-and-discontinuities-between-human-and-animal-life-and-the-future-of-humanity/ The EWP Podcast credits Connect with EWP: Website • Youtube • Facebook Hosted by Stephen Julich (EWP Core Faculty) and Jonathan Kay (EWP PhD grad) Produced by: Stephen Julich and Jonathan Kay Edited and Mixed by: Jonathan Kay Music: Mosaic, by Monsoon on the album Mandala Introduction Voiceover: Roche Wadehra 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

In this episode, Sean MacCracken reflects on his experience at the American Academy of Religion, noticing a shift toward more participatory, contemplative, and integrative approaches in religious studies. He discusses his course, Kashmiri Shaivism: Supreme Non-Dualism, highlighting how meditation, contemplation, and embodied practices cultivate awareness, ethical self-reflection, and creative engagement with the world. Sean also explores how his study of Indian philosophy and Tantric traditions opens broader, integral ways of knowing that move beyond reductionist frameworks. He discusses his article, “Regarding Humanism: Some Observations Concerning the Tibetan Buddhist and Transhumanist Dialogue,” showing how Buddhist and Tantric insights deepen our understanding of humanism, development, and collective ethical responsibility. This episode offers listeners a glimpse into how contemplative and Integralist approaches can reshape learning, thinking, and living—showing philosophy as a path toward grounded, ethically engaged, and transformative ways of being in the world. Sean K. MacCracken is adjunct faculty at California Institute of Integral Studies. He recieved a M.A. and Ph.D in Asian and Comparative Studies from CIIS, and a M.A. in Religious Studies from University of Virginia. “Regarding Humanism: Some Observations Concerning the Tibetan Buddhist and Transhumanist Dialogue” https://processcenturypress.com/unprecedented-evolution-continuities-and-discontinuities-between-human-and-animal-life-and-the-future-of-humanity/ The EWP Podcast credits Connect with EWP: Website • Youtube • Facebook Hosted by Stephen Julich (EWP Core Faculty) and Jonathan Kay (EWP PhD grad) Produced by: Stephen Julich and Jonathan Kay Edited and Mixed by: Jonathan Kay Music: Mosaic, by Monsoon on the album Mandala Introduction Voiceover: Roche Wadehra Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/buddhist-studies

In this episode, Sean MacCracken reflects on his experience at the American Academy of Religion, noticing a shift toward more participatory, contemplative, and integrative approaches in religious studies. He discusses his course, Kashmiri Shaivism: Supreme Non-Dualism, highlighting how meditation, contemplation, and embodied practices cultivate awareness, ethical self-reflection, and creative engagement with the world. Sean also explores how his study of Indian philosophy and Tantric traditions opens broader, integral ways of knowing that move beyond reductionist frameworks. He discusses his article, “Regarding Humanism: Some Observations Concerning the Tibetan Buddhist and Transhumanist Dialogue,” showing how Buddhist and Tantric insights deepen our understanding of humanism, development, and collective ethical responsibility. This episode offers listeners a glimpse into how contemplative and Integralist approaches can reshape learning, thinking, and living—showing philosophy as a path toward grounded, ethically engaged, and transformative ways of being in the world. Sean K. MacCracken is adjunct faculty at California Institute of Integral Studies. He recieved a M.A. and Ph.D in Asian and Comparative Studies from CIIS, and a M.A. in Religious Studies from University of Virginia. “Regarding Humanism: Some Observations Concerning the Tibetan Buddhist and Transhumanist Dialogue” https://processcenturypress.com/unprecedented-evolution-continuities-and-discontinuities-between-human-and-animal-life-and-the-future-of-humanity/ The EWP Podcast credits Connect with EWP: Website • Youtube • Facebook Hosted by Stephen Julich (EWP Core Faculty) and Jonathan Kay (EWP PhD grad) Produced by: Stephen Julich and Jonathan Kay Edited and Mixed by: Jonathan Kay Music: Mosaic, by Monsoon on the album Mandala Introduction Voiceover: Roche Wadehra Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/indian-religions

In this episode, Sean MacCracken reflects on his experience at the American Academy of Religion, noticing a shift toward more participatory, contemplative, and integrative approaches in religious studies. He discusses his course, Kashmiri Shaivism: Supreme Non-Dualism, highlighting how meditation, contemplation, and embodied practices cultivate awareness, ethical self-reflection, and creative engagement with the world. Sean also explores how his study of Indian philosophy and Tantric traditions opens broader, integral ways of knowing that move beyond reductionist frameworks. He discusses his article, “Regarding Humanism: Some Observations Concerning the Tibetan Buddhist and Transhumanist Dialogue,” showing how Buddhist and Tantric insights deepen our understanding of humanism, development, and collective ethical responsibility. This episode offers listeners a glimpse into how contemplative and Integralist approaches can reshape learning, thinking, and living—showing philosophy as a path toward grounded, ethically engaged, and transformative ways of being in the world. Sean K. MacCracken is adjunct faculty at California Institute of Integral Studies. He recieved a M.A. and Ph.D in Asian and Comparative Studies from CIIS, and a M.A. in Religious Studies from University of Virginia. “Regarding Humanism: Some Observations Concerning the Tibetan Buddhist and Transhumanist Dialogue” https://processcenturypress.com/unprecedented-evolution-continuities-and-discontinuities-between-human-and-animal-life-and-the-future-of-humanity/ The EWP Podcast credits Connect with EWP: Website • Youtube • Facebook Hosted by Stephen Julich (EWP Core Faculty) and Jonathan Kay (EWP PhD grad) Produced by: Stephen Julich and Jonathan Kay Edited and Mixed by: Jonathan Kay Music: Mosaic, by Monsoon on the album Mandala Introduction Voiceover: Roche Wadehra Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/spiritual-practice-and-mindfulness

Over the past few years meditation has become popular as a way to help reduce stress, be focused at work, sleep better, or simply relax. Yet meditation isn't just a tool to improve focus or relax, but a way to strengthen the positive qualities we all naturally possess: compassion, kindness, generosity, patience, humor, and finding joy in everyday life. This episode explores this higher purpose of meditation through the less familiar technique of analytic meditation that uses stories, thoughts, and emotions to steer our minds toward happiness, meaning, and benefiting others.Episode 2: What Is Meditation?Support the show

In this interview I am once again joined by Dr Ben Joffe, anthropologist, occultist, and scholar practitioner of Tibetan Buddhism. Ben reveals the industry convention of guru ghostwriting in which spiritual teachers employ one or a team of writers to produce their dharma books, explains his collaborative process with Nida Chenagtsang on their latest Vajrayana book, and sheds light on his own editorial process. Ben discusses whether a scholar should have practice experience before translating religious texts, considers whether historical inaccuracies debunk the spiritual value of Buddhist scriptures, and raises questions about the origin of terma treasure texts. Ben also compares the Yuthok Nyinthig retreat format to the Abramelin Ritual of Western Occultism, details the signs of success in tantric practice, and shares Yuthok's promise to appear in bodily form to practitioners with sufficient devotion and attainment. … Video version: https://www.guruviking.com/podcast/ep337-guru-ghostwriting-tantric-retreat-dr-ben-joffe Also available on Youtube, iTunes, & Spotify – search ‘Guru Viking Podcast'. … Topics include: 00:00 - Intro 01:12 - Ghostwriting for gurus 08:03 - Lamas often don't write their books 10:24 - Ben's editorial process 18:32 - Is guru ghostwriting a dirty secret? 19:17 - Vajrayana jargon vs a felt sense 29:56 - What is a scholar practitioner? 37:39 - Ben's retreat experiences 41:13 - Did Yuthok the Elder really exist? 50:06 - Anachronisms and retroactive attribution in Tibetan historiography 51:57 - Origins of the Tibetan medical tantras (rgyud bzhi) 58:08 - Terma treasure texts: mystical revelation or an editorial process? 01:02:08 - Why have Western scholars been hesitant to question terma texts? 01:05:04 - Does critical scholarship debunk Buddhism? 01:10:55 - Medicine Buddha ex machina 01:12:45 - Referring out 01:13:24 - Encountering Yuthok vs the Holy Guardian Angel in the Abramelin Ritual 01:20:10 - Special 7-day Yuthok ngondro 01:24:10 - Is Yuthok Nyingthig the best tantric system? 01:28:27 - The power of aspiration prayers 01:30:53 - How long does it take to become fully enlightened? 01:33:51 - Practice according to number, time, or signs 01:34:54 - Mythic resonance of lineage 01:36:33 - Signs of spiritual progress 01:41:35 - Ben comments on the Abramelin Ritual 01:43:59 - Sumton's Yeshe Zung's devotional prayer 01:46:50 - Yuthok as a Mighty Dead 01:48:47 - Do Yuthok's promises cause ego inflation and delusion? 01:52:09 - Verifying dreams and spiritual signs 01:58:26 - How to connect with spiritual blessings 02:05:09 - What are blessings? 02:06:32 - Spiritual signs in the Jesuit tradition 02:08:49 - Ngondro as a hazing 02:10:55 - Do people expect to encounter Yuthok at Dr Nida's retreats? 02:15:38 - Dr Nida's approach vs traditional contexts 02:21:00 - Typical student profile and outcomes 02:29:28 - Permissive approach to tantric vows 02:32:37 - Pros and cons of laissez-faire tantric practice 02:33:28 - Charismatic founder stage 
… Previous episodes with Dr Ben Joffe: - https://www.guruviking.com/search?q=joffe Previous episodes with Dr Nida Chenagtsang: - https://www.guruviking.com/search?q=nida 
… To find out more about Dr Ben Joffe, visit: - https://perfumedskull.com/ - http://www.skypressbooks.com/ … For more interviews, videos, and more visit: - https://www.guruviking.com Music ‘Deva Dasi' by Steve James

In this exploration of the Tao Te Ching and other traditions, the conversation opens to introductions  of the five Panelists and an invocation of hope of others to investigate the Tao Te Ching. Bob, Brian, Rich, Henry and Joel share Verse 1 and questions arise: What is Reality? Is the Tao Reality? What is the Tao? What does the term Anti-foundational mean? Reversal Yin/ Yang in relation to Tao. Paradox and the Tao. Everyday consciousness is the pathway to the Tao. What is the relationship with Buddhism, Hinduism, Christianity and Tao? What does silence offer in relation to the Tao? The Beginningless Beginning? Is the Tao directly knowable? Tibetan Buddihsm and the Tao. Verse 17 and Verse 38 are explored. Wu Wei. How do we serve God? How do we serve Tao? Why did God create? Biographies of Panel: Dr. Bob Insull is an New York State Licensed Psychologist with more than 60 years experience teaching, training, and treating in the arena of human behavior. In his clinical practice, he has worked across the developmental stages (children to golden-agers), across the diagnostic spectrum (chemical dependency, severe mental illness, relationship issues, depression, anxiety, and PTSD), and treatment settings (clinics, inpatient psychiatric centers, and private practice). During the closing years of his practice, he became interested in the area of psychological trauma and worked with survivors in individual and group settings. He has been retired from active practice for about 15 years and spends his time engaged in self-discovery on the Sufi Path and social-change activities with his church. ------- Brian Mistler enjoys communing with fellow inquirers and reflecting together on revealed perennial wisdom. Hari Om Tat Sat. Peace, peace, peace. ------- Richard Grego is Professor of philosophy and cultural history at FSCJ. His research interests focus on cross cultural themes in religion and science - including philosophy of mind, comparative world religions/world civilizations, and the metaphysical - theological implications of theoretical physics and cosmology. His publications have included studies in the history - philosophy of science and conceptions of nature in the history of western philosophy, as well as cross-cultural perspectives on mind/ consciousness in western philosophy - psychology and the neo-Vedanta Hindu tradition. Prior to his academic career, he was a criminal investigator - polygraph examiner for the Florida Office of the Public Defender and in the private sector Instructor at the Criminal Justice Institute and International Academy of Polygraph Science in Florida, and national Academic Director of the Criminal Defense Investigation Training Council. ------- Joel David Lesses is President and Executive Director of Education Training Center, Inc. and his work experience is in education, psychology, and counseling for people marginalized by trauma, addiction, and psychological distress. He is deeply vested in addressing the effects of mental health distress and its marginalization including, incarceration, homelessness, and institutionalization. Joel is dedicated to reframing mental health distress as a potential spiritual marker and existential opportunity. He holds dual Master of Science degrees from University at Buffalo in Rehabilitation Counseling and Biomedical Sciences with a concentration in Epidemiology.   ------- Henry Cretella, M.D. studied and practiced Tibetan Buddhism for several years along with training in martial arts.  He then immersed himself in the more universal Sufism of Inayat Khan, an Indian mystic, for close to twenty years. He functioned as a senior teacher in the Inayati Order and the Sufi Healing Order before pursuing  his independent practice and study of mysticism. He now integrates what he has learned and experienced over these many years. He graduated from Vanderbilt Medical School and completed his psychiatric training at Strong Memorial Hospital of the University of Rochester in Rochester, NY.  His professional career spanned over 40 years as a general and child and adolescent psychiatrist and included teaching, administration, clinical practice and consultation in the greater Rochester and western NY areas.  This, along with his spiritual and especially mystical interests lead him to certification as a mind body practitioner through the Center for Mind Body Medicine and Dr. James Gordon.  He retired several years ago from active psychiatric practice, but continues to incorporate what he has learned into his spiritual practices and offerings.

God (Tao) says, 'be what I made you to be!' God (Tao) is found in relationships. Does God want us to know Him (or ourselves) most intimately? Dependent Co-arising? 'Simultaneously, I and all beings attain the Way' (Awaken to Reality) ~Buddha 'Essentially, outside of me, nothing exists' Verse 18 What does it mean to let go? What do we let go of? To be human is to be attached? Closes with Verse 81, and then Joel reads two poems by Ikkyu. Biographies of Panel: Dr. Bob Insull is an New York State Licensed Psychologist with more than 60 years experience teaching, training, and treating in the arena of human behavior. In his clinical practice, he has worked across the developmental stages (children to golden-agers), across the diagnostic spectrum (chemical dependency, severe mental illness, relationship issues, depression, anxiety, and PTSD), and treatment settings (clinics, inpatient psychiatric centers, and private practice). During the closing years of his practice, he became interested in the area of psychological trauma and worked with survivors in individual and group settings. He has been retired from active practice for about 15 years and spends his time engaged in self-discovery on the Sufi Path and social-change activities with his church. ------ Brian Mistler enjoys communing with fellow inquirers and reflecting together on revealed perennial wisdom. Hari Om Tat Sat. Peace, peace, peace. ------- Richard Grego is Professor of philosophy and cultural history at FSCJ. His research interests focus on cross-cultural themes in religion and science - including philosophy of mind, comparative world religions/world civilizations, and the metaphysical - theological implications of theoretical physics and cosmology. His publications have included studies in the history - philosophy of science and conceptions of nature in the history of western philosophy, as well as cross-cultural perspectives on mind/ consciousness in western philosophy - psychology and the neo-Vedanta Hindu tradition. Prior to his academic career, he was a criminal investigator - polygraph examiner for the Florida Office of the Public Defender and in the private sector Instructor at the Criminal Justice Institute and International Academy of Polygraph Science in Florida, and national Academic Director of the Criminal Defense Investigation Training Council. ------- Joel David Lesses is President and Executive Director of Education Training Center, Inc. and his work experience is in education, psychology, and counseling for people marginalized by trauma, addiction, and psychological distress. He is deeply vested in addressing the effects of mental health distress and its marginalization including, incarceration, homelessness, and institutionalization. Joel is dedicated to reframing mental health distress as a potential spiritual marker and existential opportunity. He holds dual Master of Science degrees from University at Buffalo in Rehabilitation Counseling and Biomedical Sciences with a concentration in Epidemiology. ------- Henry Cretella, M.D. studied and practiced Tibetan Buddhism for several years along with training in martial arts.  He then immersed himself in the more universal Sufism of Inayat Khan, an Indian mystic, for close to twenty years. He functioned as a senior teacher in the Inayati Order and the Sufi Healing Order before pursuing  his independent practice and study of mysticism. He now integrates what he has learned and experienced over these many years. He graduated from Vanderbilt Medical School and completed his psychiatric training at Strong Memorial Hospital of the University of Rochester in Rochester, NY.  His professional career spanned over 40 years as a general and child and adolescent psychiatrist and included teaching, administration, clinical practice and consultation in the greater Rochester and western NY areas.  This, along with his spiritual and especially mystical interests lead him to certification as a mind body practitioner through the Center for Mind Body Medicine and Dr. James Gordon.  He retired several years ago from active psychiatric practice, but continues to incorporate what he has learned into his spiritual practices and offerings.d

In this meditation, we explore the subtle body, the energetic connection between body and mind, through the lens of Tibetan Buddhism. It's part of a broader conversation we've been having about art, embodiment, and Buddhist practice.Together, we'll gently guide our awareness through the body, connect with the breath, and reflect on how our mind and body are not separate, but deeply intertwined. We'll also explore how this energy body shows up in movement, creativity, emotion, and everyday life.Episode 211: Meditation on the Subtle Body Support the show

Bright on Buddhism - Episode 128 - What is Tibetan Buddhism?What are some important historical points about it? What do the various schools of Tibetan Buddhism believe?Resources: Cabezón, José Ignacio (26 October 2006). "Tibetan Buddhist Society". In Juergensmeyer, Mark (ed.). The Oxford Handbook of Global Religions. doi:10.1093/oxfordhb/9780195137989.003.0010.Chagdud Tulku Rinpoche (1993). Gates to Buddhist Practice: Essential Teachings of a Tibetan Master. Padma Publishing. ISBN 1-881847-02-0.Coleman, Graham, ed. (1993). A Handbook of Tibetan Culture. Boston: Shambhala Publications. ISBN 1-57062-002-4.Mullin, Glenn H. (2008). Living in the Face of Death: The Tibetan Tradition. Snow Lion Publications. ISBN 978-1-55939-908-1.Powers, John (2004). History as Propaganda: Tibetan Exiles versus the People's Republic of China. Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0-19-517426-7.Powers, John (2008). A Concise Introduction to Tibetan Buddhism. Snow Lion Publications.Smith, E. Gene (2001). Among Tibetan Texts: History and Literature of the Himalayan Plateau. Boston: Wisdom Publications. ISBN 0-86171-179-3.Wallace, B. Alan (1993). Tibetan Buddhism From the Ground Up: A Practical Approach for Modern Life. Wisdom Publications. ISBN 978-0-86171-075-1.Yeshe, Lama Thubten (2001). The Essence of Tibetan Buddhism. Lama Yeshe Wisdom Archive. ISBN 1-891868-08-X.https://www.feedingamerica.org/find-your-local-foodbankDo you have a question about Buddhism that you'd like us to discuss? Let us know by emailing us at Bright.On.Buddhism@gmail.com.Credits:Nick Bright: Script, Cover Art, Music, Voice of Hearer, Co-HostProven Paradox: Editing, mixing and mastering, social media, Voice of Hermit, Co-Host

In this tender and intimate episode of This Cosmic Life, I sit with one of my dearest friends and long time teachers, the storyteller and nature keeper Jill Olesker. Together we wander through the wild terrain of folktales, lived experience, and the way stories move through our bodies like rivers remembering their source. Jill speaks about the art of gathering stories from the land, from people, and from the quiet hidden places where truth rests. Her presence brings a grounded mysticism, inviting us to listen in a slower and more reverent way. This conversation is for anyone who feels called to remember the stories that shaped them, the stories that shape the earth, and the stories waiting to be spoken again. About Jill OleskerJill Olesker is a storyteller of the land and of the lived heart. She gathers folktales, nature tales, and the real stories people carry in their bones. Rooted in the Hudson Valley, she is one of the quiet keepers of its nature based storytelling traditions. Jill is a mother to a beautiful grown son, and she offers her stories as an act of reciprocal care for community and earth. She is currently creating a living body of work called The Waterstories, inviting people to remember, honor, and share their own water born memories. You can connect with her at waterstoriesshared@gmail.com to learn more about her offerings or to share your water story. I'm Tara Samadhi, and it is my joy to welcome you into This Cosmic Life. I walk a path as a mystic, a spiritual friend, an oracle, and a lover of the sacred. My own journey has been shaped by deep devotion and radical healing, and along the way I have gathered wisdom from Umbandaime, Sacred Medicines, Tibetan Buddhism, Esoteric Hindu Traditions, Non Dual Shaiva Tantra, sound alchemy, and the ancient mystery schools.This podcast is a space where we weave those threads together, not as concepts but as living practices that open our hearts and awaken the Shakti within us. Through mantra, through sound, and through soul filled conversation, we remember that we are divine beings having a human experience.Here, nothing is outside of the sacred. We come together to explore the pathless path, the wild and mysterious unfolding of transformation, devotion, and awakening. My prayer is that this space becomes a sanctuary where you feel seen, inspired, and invited to walk deeper into the truth of who you are.Website: https://tarasamadhi.com/Instagram:⁠⁠ https://www.instagram.com/tarasamadhi/⁠⁠

In this episode I am once again joined by Myriam Szabo, also known as Ngakma Yumma Mudra: dancer, producer, model, teacher of Tibetan Buddhism, and founder of the international Danza Duende Network. Ngakma Yumma Mudra recounts the story of her life from a childhood of domestic abuse, intense discipleship under Russian dance teachers, and years of living on the streets. Ngakma Yumma Mudra recalls her relationships, her mystical and psychic experiences, and her breakthrough to international fame as the model in a provocative marketing campaign. Ngakma Yumma Mudra shares her conversion to Buddhism, how her devotion to Padmasambhava helped her confront her fear, and how a period of intensive retreat led her to rediscover dance as a spiritual practice. … Video version: https://www.guruviking.com/podcast/ep334-the-dakinis-journey-ngakma-yumma-mudra Also available on Youtube, iTunes, & Spotify – search ‘Guru Viking Podcast'. … Topics Include: 00:00 - Intro 00:55 - An unusual conception 04:56 - Beginning classical dance training at 2 years old 06:42 - Mother beaten every day 08:19 - Fleeing to Paris 10:21 - Dance as refuge 12:32 - Discipleship under two Russian dance gurus 19:58 - Studying music and classical guitar 20:35 - Living on the streets for 3 years 22:17 - An abusive relationship at 17 years old 24:20 - Karma and abuse 26:32 - LSD and a mystical awakening 30:16 - Living with artists and drug dealers 32:45 - Attacked by rival drug gang 33:41 - Psychic abilities 36:05 - Reading Chogyam Trungpa 38:01 - Travel to India to seek Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche 40:39 - Moving to Portugal 42:11 - Modelling career in Paris 46:06 - Devotion to Guru Padmasambhava and releasing fear 49:15 - Space and time 52:44 - Relationship with famous photographer Jean-François Jonvelle  55:25 - Orgies, dharma, and rise to fame 58:36 - Modelling for the famous advertisement, “Demain j'enlève le bas” 01:02:15 - Further Buddhist training and 1 year retreat 01:05:07 - Return to dance 01:07:58 - Discovering the feminine 01:09:08 - Dance as sādhanā 01:16:!6 - Performing without choreography 01:21:20 - Teaching and burning out 01:25:21 - Dharma art 01:29:16 - Relationship with Michel Raji  01:36:28 - Breathwork and healing the inner masculine 01:38:08 - Dharma dance study programme … Previous episode with Ngakma Yumma Mudra: - https://www.guruviking.com/search?q=yumma To find our more about Ngakma Yumma Mudra visit: - https://www.danzaduende.org/yumma-bio-en.htm For more interviews, videos, and more visit: - https://www.guruviking.com Music ‘Deva Dasi' by Steve James

Tulku Orgyen P'huntsok Rinpoche is a Vajrayana Buddhist teacher at the Odiyana Institute in Santa Barbara, CA, and one of Jaymee's root guru's in Tibetan Buddhism. At 18 months of age he was recognized as the reincarnation of an important teacher by His Holiness Dudjom Rinpoche, and was raised since childhood to fulfill his incarnation. He is a beautifully tender and peaceful man, who speaks with simplicity, humor, and the lightest touch imaginable. On this, his fourth and most profound conversation with Jaymee on the podcast, teacher and student discuss Tibetan Buddhist philosophy, the true nature of mind, the mechanisms of karma and the exponential heart of devotion.www.loveistheauthor.comLITA PODCAST: hosted, produced, edited and music by Jaymee Carpenter. ODIYANA CHARITABLE SOCIETY: www.odiyanacs.orgInterested in Trauma Counseling/Mentorship with Jaymee?email: lacee@loveistheauthor.com to set up a free consultation,or visit: www.loveistheauthor.com/mentorship SPONSORS: YERBA MADRE www.yerbamadre.comBOSSANOVA SOAP & CANDLES www.bossanovasoap.comTOTALLY BLOWN ⁠⁠⁠www.totallyblown.us⁠⁠⁠RAUM GOODS www.raumgoods.comINDIAN LODGE ROAD www.indianlodgeroad.comTHiS SHOW is a LABOR of LOVE. PLEASE SUPPORT IT: www.patreon.com/loveistheauthorpodcastFAN CONTACT: lacee@loveistheauthor.comON INSTAGRAM:  @loveistheauthor / @unconventionalgardenerTHiS SHOW is a LABOR of LOVE. PLEASE SUPPORT IT: www.patreon.com/loveistheauthorpodcastFAN CONTACT: lacee@loveistheauthor.comON INSTAGRAM:  @loveistheauthor / @unconventionalgardener

In this luminous and wildly alive conversation, I welcome back priestess and temple guide Nickie Jean for a journey into the mystery, where miraculous conception, the astral light, and the sacred frequencies of Mother Mary weave together in living remembrance and conscious conversation.This episode is for the mystical explorer and dreamer, for the ones who have touched the unseen, who know that spirit speaks in nonlinear, extraordinary ways. Together we open a space for wonder, for those who have experienced supernatural contact or communion with other realms of being.Through the lens of Marguerite Mary Rigoglioso's revelatory works, The Mystery Tradition of Miraculous Conception and The Secret Life of Mother Mary, we explore the ancient priestess arts of parthenogenesis, the alchemy of the womb, and the awakening of the Virgin lineage within us now.Nickie shares her personal and deeply insightful experiences with astral babies, visionary contact, and the living light that moves through all creation.This conversation is devotional, daring, and an offering for the ones remembering that the body itself is a holy temple of light

In this episode I join Charles Manson in Oxford, England to visit the Bodleian Library (Oxford University) where he is the specialist librarian for its Tibetan Collections. Charles leads us through the streets of Oxford to visit the old Bodleian Library, founded in 1602. Then we arrive at the Weston Library to explore its collection of Tibetan manuscripts. Charles guides us through gold lettered texts about Lamdre and expiation, describes the process of textual revelation known as “terma”, and shares a warning based on his own experiences of dark retreat. Charles explains the Tibetan doctrines of the afterlife while showing a rare copy of the Tibetan Book of the Dead, muses on Coleridge's advice for visiting a library, and reflects on why he believes converts to Tibetan Buddhism should attempt to learn the Tibetan language. Charles also details his working routine as a librarian and archivist, reflects on his own academic journey from SOAS to Harvard and Oxford, and considers the role his religious faith plays in his work with Tibetan texts. … Video version: https://www.guruviking.com/podcast/ep332-oxford-librarian-of-tibet-charles-manson Also available on Youtube, iTunes, & Spotify – search ‘Guru Viking Podcast'.
 … Topics include: 00:00 - Intro 01:16 - The old Bodleian 03:25 - Entering the Weston Library 06:13 - Retrieving the texts 06:48 - The Driver collection 08:29 - Close look at a Lamdre text 12:33 - Features of a terma treasure text 13:14 - Mind vs earth termas 15:15 - How termas are composed 15:51 - Charles' terma experience 16:54 - 4 ways of changing the mind 17:30 - Expanding a terma 18:02 - The Driver collection 19:00 - Dakini script and images 20:52 - Manuscript care 21:20 - Unwrapping a text, discovering a washing prayer 22:30 - More texts 24:50 - The Tibetan Book of the Dead 26:03 - Bardo doctrine of 49 days between lives 26:24 - Opportunities for liberation at and after death 27:43 - How to use the Tibetan Book of the Dead 28:39 - The process of rebirth 29:48 - Liberation upon hearing 30:18 - Phowa practice for the dead 33:16 - Dark retreat as preparation for death 34:11 - Dark retreat warnings 35:40 - Charles' studies at SOAS, Harvard, and Oxford 38:45 - Beginning at the Bodleian Library 39:58 - Coleridge on libraries 41:15 - Work at the British Library 41:46 - Why Charles would like more time 43:06 - First days at the Bodleian Library 44:36 - Initial work on the collection 45:27 - The Library of Congress and other partnerships 50:59 - Range of acquisitions 52:46 - Tibetan medical writing 53:41 - Access and the goals of Charles' library acquisitions 57:14 - What would Charles do with more funding 01:01:41 - Providing online access for the world 01:03:32 - Day in the life at the Bodleian Library 01:06:33 - Importance of specialist knowledge 01:09:19 - Charles' religious devotion 01:13:45 - Separation of religion and scholarship 01:14:53 - Why converts should learn the Tibetan language 01:16:43 - Scholar practitioners and the importance of study 01:18:17 - Teaching the Tibetan language 01:19:02 - Curation as religious service 01:19:17 - Charles' invitation to viewers … Previous episode with Charles Manson: - https://www.guruviking.com/podcast/ep243-scholar-practitioner-charles-manson To find our more about Charles Manson, visit: - https://www.shambhala.com/authors/the-second-karmapa-karma-pakshi.html - https://uk.linkedin.com/in/charles-manson-07420911 - charles.manson@bodleian.ox.ac.uk … 
For more interviews, videos, and more visit: - www.guruviking.com … Music ‘Deva Dasi' by Steve James

Transpersonal psychologist and dharma teacher Dr. John Churchill joins us to explore how ancient wisdom and modern psychology unite in the path of conscious evolution. Drawing on decades of training in Tibetan Buddhism and developmental psychology, John reveals how the Bodhisattva path—awakening not just for oneself, but for the benefit of all beings—offers a map for our individual and collective transformation.https://livemomentous.com and use code KNOWTHYSELF for up to 35% off the best creatine in the game20% off Pique Life Tea:https://www.piquelife.com/knowthyselfGuided Meditation: https://youtu.be/i_5WApfC1pMAndrés Book Recs: https://www.knowthyselfpodcast.com/book-list___________00:00 Intro 01:38 Humanity's Evolutionary Moment 03:14 Planetary Perspective & Spiritual Transition 04:15 AI as Symbol of Transformation 05:06 End of Time & Psychological Judgment Day 07:18 Destiny vs. Fate in a New Age 09:06 Shift into Love as a Developmental Stage 10:57 Individuation & Inner Sovereignty 12:00 Seven Stages of the Heart-Mind 13:32 What Is the Heart-Mind? 14:02 Reincarnation & Consciousness Evolution 16:02 Awakening in Animals & Soul Development 17:00 Beauty, Goodness & Truth vs. Ego Development 18:43 Ad – Momentous Creatine 19:04 Cartesian Split & Blossoming Intelligence 20:21 Stage 1 – Awakening the Heart Seed 23:06 Stage 2 – Emotional Healing & Astral Awareness 26:08 Stage 3 – Training the Mind & Sacred Sciences 33:15 Stage 4 – Stabilizing Heart-Mind & Path of the Bodhisattva 36:46 Pitfalls on the Spiritual Path 42:00 Stage 5 – Integration & Service46:22 Ad - Pique Life 48:30 Stage 6 – Transcendence & Non-Dual Awareness 56:00 Stage 7 – Embodied Wisdom & Planetary Participation 01:04:00 The Bodhisattva Path in Modern Times 01:11:00 Navigating Glamour & Spiritual Ego 01:18:00 The Role of Practice & Discipline 01:25:00 Collective Awakening & Cultural Healing 01:32:00 Mystical Science & Sacred Technology 01:39:00 The Return of the Sacred Academy 01:46:00 Inner Sovereignty & Social Transformation 01:53:00 Living from the Heart-Mind 02:00:00 Final Reflections & Call to Action 02:06:00 Conclusion ___________Episode Resources: https://www.planetarydharma.comhttps://www.instagram.com/planetarydharma/https://www.instagram.com/andreduqum/https://www.instagram.com/knowthyself/https://www.youtube.com/@knowthyselfpodcasthttps://www.knowthyselfpodcast.com

For as long as space endures And for as long as living beings remain Until then may I too abide To dispel the misery of the world. ―Shantideva Compassion and generosity are the hallmarks of the most elevated souls, fully manifested within beings like Buddha, Jesus, Krishna, Moses, and all the prophets. The amazing fact is that such beings were once like us: filled with greed, envy, resentment, and all of the psychological contaminations and defects that make us suffer. What is also empowering is that we have the potential to become like these enlightened masters, whom in the east are known as bodhisattvas: "the essence or incarnation of wisdom," the latter word indicating Prajna in Sanskrit, or "vis-dom: the power of vision / perception." The equivalent Hebrew term is Chokmah חָכמָה, signifying Christ in the mystical Kabbalah. The essence of genuine spirituality is kindness, selfless service, and comprehension of the root nature of all existence: the unsurpassed wisdom of emptiness, Prajna, Śūnyatā, or uncreated light of the Kabbalists, denominated in Gnostic terms as Khristos, Christ. Christ is not a human person, but the intense, primordial root energy of boundless compassion for suffering beings trapped within cyclic or manifested existence. This divine force, the emptiness of enlightened cognizance, sustains all of the universe and sacrifices itself by entering within those practitioners who are properly cultivated and prepared through the great perfections or paramitas, the trainings, principles, or qualities of awakened consciousness within Tibetan Buddhism. Learn about the path of enlightenment through a gnostic exegesis of Shantideva's seminal Mahayana text, The Way of the Bodhisattva, and how the enlightened mind / heart of wisdom, bodhichitta, can be developed within the practitioner of any denomination, religion, or tradition. This lecture introduces Shantideva's text, the purpose and contexts of its composition, and its practical application within the art and science of meditation. The lecturer also explains how the mystical kabbalah and the gnostic tradition of Samael Aun Weor can elucidate the esoteric nature of this scripture. Resources and References: https://chicagognosis.org/lectures/introduction-to-the-way-of-the-bodhisattva

Featuring the Kirsten and Charlotte Asdal alongside Tony (https://www.breakingbeijing.com/) Eric Robinson, Justin (https://justinmc.substack.com/) and myself Chapters 02:55 US-China Relations: Punctuated Decoupling 05:52 Woo Trump didn't sell out Taiwan! But what if he did? 08:21 Xi Jinping's Confidence and Military Calculations 24:12 Blockades 28:54 Innovation vs. Production in Defense Technology 43:08 Book Recommendations and Cultural Reflections 44:57 Game of the Week: Historical Insights Outtro music: suno' s version of bad bunny singing about antietam. I promise I won't do this for every episode outtro until the AI gets better. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Featuring the Kirsten and Charlotte Asdal alongside Tony (https://www.breakingbeijing.com/) Eric Robinson, Justin (https://justinmc.substack.com/) and myself Chapters 02:55 US-China Relations: Punctuated Decoupling 05:52 Woo Trump didn't sell out Taiwan! But what if he did? 08:21 Xi Jinping's Confidence and Military Calculations 24:12 Blockades 28:54 Innovation vs. Production in Defense Technology 43:08 Book Recommendations and Cultural Reflections 44:57 Game of the Week: Historical Insights Outtro music: suno' s version of bad bunny singing about antietam. I promise I won't do this for every episode outtro until the AI gets better. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

How can we use pleasure in our meditation practice? Buddhism offers specific techniques for meditating on pleasure as a way to deepen our qualities of concentration, fearlessness, loving-kindness, and even our understanding of the ultimate nature of reality.Episode 85: Guided Meditation on PleasureSupport the show

Lawrence Pintak has spent his life grounded in facts while fascinated by the ethereal. An award-winning former CBS News Middle East correspondent with a PhD in Islamic Studies, Pintak has been a practitioner of Tibetan Buddhism for three decades and is an avid student of the perennial truths at the core of the world's religions. The author of seven books at the intersection of religion, media, and policy, his reporting and analysis on religion and international affairs has been published by The New York Times, Foreign Policy, the Washington Post, and many of the world's leading media organizations. He also wrote about Buddhism and Eastern traditions for Shambhala Sun/Lion's Roar, Buddhadharma, Beliefnet.com and others before 9/11 drew his focus back to the Middle East. Pintak's most recent nonfiction book, America & Islam, was a finalist for the 2020 Religion News Association award for Religion Reporting Excellence. Books: Lessons from the Mountaintop: Ten Modern Mystics and Their Extraordinary Lives America & Islam: Soundbites, Suicide Bombs and the Road to Donald Trump Website: pintak.com Discussion of this interview in the BatGap Community Facebook Group. Interview recorded October 4, 2025

Pleasure is often viewed as a hindrance to the spiritual path, a hotbed of craving and attachment, but what if we told you that pleasure can actually be a positive part of the spiritual path, a portal to love and happiness?Episode 84: Pleasure and Buddhism: Food, Sex and Netflix on the Path to EnlightenmentSupport the show

On today's episode I had the pleasure to speak with Dr Ortwin Lüers. Dr. Lüers is a psychotherapist and an expert in the internal martial art of Wu Ji Chuan. As a psychiatrist he specializes in treating post-traumatic stress disorder and chronic stress. In 1984,  he began studying Buddhism with Tibetan meditation master Ven. Lama Chime Rinpoche and the following year he began his study of Wu Ji Chuan. In 1990 he was accepted as a disciple by Grandmaster Chee Kim Thong. He trained extensively with the Grandmaster until his passing in 2001.You can find out more about Dr. Ortwin Lüers on his website https://wuchidao.dehttps://www.yanshougong.orgSupport the Podcast at our Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/u63954666Support the show

Queens without a Kingdom worth Ruling: Buddhist Nuns and the Process of Change in Tibetan Monastic Communities is a fascinating study of nuns in the Tibetan Buddhist nunnery of Khachoe Ghakyil Ling in Kathmandu. Written by Dr. Chandra Chiara Ehm, who was a member of this monastic community for nearly a decade, it offers a rare perspective on life in a nunnery. The book explores nuns' lives, their studies, and their and aspirations--we see how young girls and women become nuns, what a day in the life is like, and how their scholastic study is structured, as well as some of the obstacles that the nuns much navigate. It also explores how recent changes in technology, demographics, and secular education are continuing to transform monastic life. This book is a rich and extremely readable blend of ethnographic detail, historical and textual background, and incisive analysis. It would make an excellent contribution to any syllabus on Tibetan Buddhism, women in Buddhism, or Buddhism and modernity. The author, Chandra Chiara Ehm, is a postdoctoral researcher at the the Ecole Francaise d'Èxreme Orient (EFEO) and the Centre de Recherche sur les Civilisations de l'Asie Orientale (CRCAO). She received her PhD in a double degree program in Buddhist Studies at the LMU in Munich and in anthropology at the Ecole Pratique des Hautes Etudes in Paris . She employs multiple academic methods--notably both philology and qualitative ethnographic work. 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

Queens without a Kingdom worth Ruling: Buddhist Nuns and the Process of Change in Tibetan Monastic Communities is a fascinating study of nuns in the Tibetan Buddhist nunnery of Khachoe Ghakyil Ling in Kathmandu. Written by Dr. Chandra Chiara Ehm, who was a member of this monastic community for nearly a decade, it offers a rare perspective on life in a nunnery. The book explores nuns' lives, their studies, and their and aspirations--we see how young girls and women become nuns, what a day in the life is like, and how their scholastic study is structured, as well as some of the obstacles that the nuns much navigate. It also explores how recent changes in technology, demographics, and secular education are continuing to transform monastic life. This book is a rich and extremely readable blend of ethnographic detail, historical and textual background, and incisive analysis. It would make an excellent contribution to any syllabus on Tibetan Buddhism, women in Buddhism, or Buddhism and modernity. The author, Chandra Chiara Ehm, is a postdoctoral researcher at the the Ecole Francaise d'Èxreme Orient (EFEO) and the Centre de Recherche sur les Civilisations de l'Asie Orientale (CRCAO). She received her PhD in a double degree program in Buddhist Studies at the LMU in Munich and in anthropology at the Ecole Pratique des Hautes Etudes in Paris . She employs multiple academic methods--notably both philology and qualitative ethnographic work. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/east-asian-studies

Today's episode features Ralph De La Rosa. Ralph was the author of three books, including Outshining Trauma: A New Vision of Radical Compassion (foreword by Richard Schwartz). He was a psychotherapist in private practice and a longtime meditation teacher known for his radically honest and humorous approach. His work was featured in GQ, CNN, NY Post, Tricycle, Mindful Magazine, and beyond.Perhaps most crucial is that Ralph walked the path of outshining trauma alongside the people he worked with. He was a survivor of PTSD, heroin addiction, Borderline Personality Disorder, ADHD, and liver failure. Walking through these matters with the help of profound therapists and mentors became an empowerment no school could have offered. It was simply part of his path to offer back what he had been shown.Ralph mentored personally with Richard Schwartz, founder of the Internal Family Systems model of psychotherapy, known for its efficacy in healing trauma. He also completed an invite-only advanced teacher training with Jack Kornfield.He began practicing meditation in 1996 and trained in a spectrum of yogic and healing traditions, including devotional Hinduism and Tibetan Buddhism. Ralph began teaching Buddhist-inspired meditation in 2008. He identified as a practitioner and teacher of human spirituality, offering a highly specialized hybrid of IFS and Buddhism to guide students on a direct path of conscious evolution and self-discovery.As a therapist, Ralph was a summa cum laude graduate of Fordham University. He spent his earliest days working in NYC's clinical foster care system where he trained in multiple modalities of trauma-focused therapy. He maintained a small roster of therapy clients for the love of witnessing transformation up close.Ralph was also an intersectional activist, musician, wannabe acrobat, and outdoor enthusiast, who made his home in Seattle, WA. His teachings and writings continue to inspire and support people navigating trauma and transformation.Some of the topics we covered in this episode include:A beginning guided meditationWhat drew Ralph to IFSOverlaps with ACT and IFSThe value of living with an open heartAnd Ralph guides me through some experiential IFS work—————————————————————————Outshining Trauma: https://a.co/d/cQ8kREn—————————————————————————Thank you all for checking out the episode! Here are some ways to help support Mentally Flexible:Sign up for PsychFlex through the Mentally Flexible link! PsychFlex.com/MentallyFlexibleYou can help cover some of the costs of running the podcast by donating a cup of coffee! www.buymeacoffee.com/mentallyflexiblePlease subscribe and leave a review on Apple Podcasts. It only takes 30 seconds and plays an important role in being able to get new guests.https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/mentally-flexible/id1539933988Follow the show on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mentallyflexible/Check out my song “Glimpse at Truth” that you hear in the intro/outro of every episode: https://tomparkes.bandcamp.com/track/glimpse-at-truthCheck out my new album, Holding Space! https://open.spotify.com/album/0iOcjZQhmAhYtjjq3CTpwQ?si=nemiLnELTsGGExjfy8B6iw

In this episode of The Psychedelic Podcast, Paul F. Austin sits down with meditation teacher and social entrepreneur Dr. Fleet Maull to explore how Neuro-Somatic Mindfulness (NSM) intersects with psychedelic therapy. Find full show notes and links here: https://thethirdwave.co/podcast/episode-324/?ref=278  Fleet shares his journey from a 14-year federal prison sentence—where he founded the first prison hospice program and led daily meditation groups—to developing NSM, a radically embodied, neuroscience- and trauma-informed approach to practice. He explains how NSM trains five key brain networks, why embodiment quiets a noisy mind more reliably than “thinking about” the breath, and how pairing NSM with ketamine or psilocybin can help shift insights from state to trait. The conversation offers a grounded roadmap for practitioners and seekers who want deeper stability, safety, and integration in expanded-state work. Fleet Maull, PhD, CMT-P is an author, meditation teacher, mindset coach, and social entrepreneur working at the intersection of personal and social transformation. He is the founder & CEO of Heart Mind Institute, which integrates Western science with contemplative wisdom across trauma healing, resilience, psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy, and conscious entrepreneurship. While serving a 14-year federal sentence (1985–1999), he founded Prison Mindfulness Institute and National Prison Hospice Association, catalyzing national movements in contemplative rehabilitation and end-of-life care. A senior Dharma teacher in Tibetan Buddhism and a Zen Roshi, Dr. Maull developed Neuro-Somatic Mindfulness (NSM), a deeply embodied, trauma-informed practice for healing and awakening. *This October 14–19, 2025, Paul will also co-host Heart Mind Institute's free online Microdosing & Psychedelic Retreats Summit, featuring 35+ global leaders including Paul Stamets, Deepak Chopra, and James Fadiman. Register free via the links below. Highlights Why embodiment beats “thinking about” the breath Prison as practice: hospice, service, and sobriety What is Neuro-Somatic Mindfulness (NSM)? DMN vs. task-positive network in practice Training five neural networks for resilience From state to trait: integration by design NSM with low-dose ketamine: retreat outcomes Rigidity, chaos, and the Goldilocks zone Episode Links FleetMaull.com: https://www.fleetmaull.com/ Heart Mind Institute: https://www.heartmind.co/ Microdosing & Psychedelic Retreats Summit (Free Registration):  https://thethirdwave.co/wp/?bwfan-link-trigger=9662151721791b9c6c99a7d8adb5929c  Episode Sponsors: The Practitioner Certification Program by Third Wave's Psychedelic Coaching Institute. Golden Rule Mushrooms - Get a lifetime discount of 10% with code THIRDWAVE at checkout

Text reading taken from:Treasures from Juniper Ridge (Padmasambhava's Advice #3) by Padmasambhava by Tulku Urgyen, Erik Pema Kunsang (Translator) , Marcia Binder Schmidt (Translator).Padmasambhava, also known as Guru Rinpoche (Precious Guru), was an Indian Vajrayana Buddhist master from the 8th century who introduced Tantric Buddhism to Tibet. He is considered the founder of the Nyingma school, the oldest tradition of Tibetan Buddhism, and is revered as the "Second Buddha" by his followers. He is believed to have come to Tibet at the invitation of King Trisong Detsen to help establish the first Tibetan Buddhist monastery, Samye Monastery.

Actress-turned-documentarian Marta György-Kessler joins Best in Fest to share her fascinating transformation from the stages of Budapest to uncovering untold spiritual journeys through film. In this episode, Marta dives into the backstory of her award-winning documentary Hannah: Buddhism's Untold Journey, her deep connection to Buddhist icon Hannah Nydahl, and her current film chronicling the life of the 16th Karmapa—one of Tibetan Buddhism's most revered figures.Host Leslie Lippa explores Marta's unique path from the post-communist struggles of Hungary to discovering lost archival footage in basements, building a multi-continent documentary team, and navigating festival circuits and Netflix distribution. Marta also unpacks the challenges women face in the film industry, the emotional depth of true storytelling, and how Buddhist philosophy continues to shape her creative process.If you're a filmmaker, spiritual seeker, or documentary lover—this episode is a must-listen.

Earle led the yoga philosophy department and taught meditation and yoga, while also studying Tibetan, Sanskrit, business, and a 7-year advanced program in Tibetan Buddhism. #energymedicine #spiritual #meditate About my Guest Earle BirneyEarle grew up an avid sports fan in Vancouver, Canada. With just 4 months left of study before obtaining a degree, he began to realize that a life of following “societal norms” — starting a career, buying a house, getting married, having kids — did not make sense or appeal to him. It felt confining rather than freeing. So instead, he took out a student loan, bought an around-the-world ticket, and went on his personal search for freedom. Fueled by liquid inspiration, Earle ironically ended up in Paremoremo, a maximum security prison in Auckland New Zealand where he remained as a guest for the next 22 months. This is where Earle met the practices of yoga, meditation, and Buddhist philosophy. Earle began studying the Asian Classics Institute program and shortly after returning to Canada, went to help him start the Diamond Mountain University and Retreat Center in the Chiricahua Mountains of Arizona. Earle led the yoga philosophy department and taught meditation and yoga, while also studying Tibetan, Sanskrit, business, and a 7-year advanced program in Tibetan Buddhism. This period of study concluded with a 3 year 3 month 3 day silent meditation retreat.Taking his 27 years of experience, Earle thrives on making the often complicated teachings practical and relatable. Earle uses his expertise in retreat and his capacity to guide people along the stages of meditation, to help them in their spiritual journey.Earle is the head of curriculum development and lead teacher at the Yoga Studies Institute (YSI). YSI reaches over 10,000 students annually, leading students in yoga programs and retreats, meditation teacher trainings, and philosophy workshops. Earle also teaches and leads meditation programs at the Three Jewels Outreach Center in NYC for many students, including beginning meditators, people training to become meditation teachers, and advanced practitioners looking to deepen their practice in retreat.What we Discussed: 00:10 Who is Earle Birney 01:00 His Journey to understand life05:35 4 months from finishing his Degree and quit07:40 The plan was to work and kep travelling08:18 How he got into selling Acid09:30 Getting a warning he should have listened to10:28 The Process of Getting Arrested11:40 His Court Experience14:20 His experience in Prison15:50 How did his Parents react to the situation17:00 After 5 month how was the prison experience18:55 The jobs in the Prison20:30 What was his Mindset when he know he was getting out22:45 Was there any treatment in Prison to help with drug use25:00 The Journey after Prison28:00 7 Years in a Buddist centre29:00 3 Years 3 Months & 3 Day silent retreat29:50 How did they cover costs30:45 Spending 3 years to go inwards for yourself31:45 The Structure of the Retreat33:19 How was his mind in the 1st few days35:25 After the Retreat what was the next part of his journey38:00 Fast for Hunger40:20 Give Dignity to the Homeless41:00 What Meditation do they Teach and his Practice43:30 When People say they can not Meditate46:00 Getting Tired in Meditation49:14 Walking on the beach worked for me Meditating50:48 The Free Resources on his WebsiteHow to Contact Earle Birneywww.yogastudiesinstitute.orghttps://www.instagram.com/samayogastudio/All about Roy / Brain Gym & Virtual Assistants at ⁠https://roycoughlan.com/⁠

Join Tami Simon and Andrew Holecek for the second half of their exploration of reincarnation. Here, they delve deeper into Tibetan Buddhist perspectives on death, rebirth, and the power of "dark retreat" practice, revealing practical guidance for navigating everyday life. What happens after we die? And what do habits have to do with the process? In this episode of Insights at the Edge, host Tami Simon welcomes Andrew Holecek, scholar, author, and teacher of Tibetan Buddhism and non-dual wisdom traditions. Together, they dive into the mysteries of reincarnation and the "gap between lives." Drawing from Tibetan teachings on the bardos, dream yoga, and the art of dying, Andrew shares practical insights on how these ancient teachings are not just about what happens after death, but also about navigating the transitions and challenges we face here and now.  Join them to explore:  How our beliefs about death deeply inform how we live The nature of awareness and the influence of habits How cultivating lucidity transforms both our dreams and our waking lives, and more Note: These interviews originally aired on Sounds True One, where these special episodes of Insights at the Edge are available to watch live on video and with exclusive access to Q&As with our guests. Learn more at join.soundstrue.com.

Join Tami Simon and Andrew Holecek for the second half of their exploration of reincarnation. Here, they delve deeper into Tibetan Buddhist perspectives on death, rebirth, and the power of "dark retreat" practice, revealing practical guidance for navigating everyday life. What happens after we die? And what do habits have to do with the process? In this episode of Insights at the Edge, host Tami Simon welcomes Andrew Holecek, scholar, author, and teacher of Tibetan Buddhism and non-dual wisdom traditions. Together, they dive into the mysteries of reincarnation and the "gap between lives." Drawing from Tibetan teachings on the bardos, dream yoga, and the art of dying, Andrew shares practical insights on how these ancient teachings are not just about what happens after death, but also about navigating the transitions and challenges we face here and now.  Join them to explore:  How our beliefs about death deeply inform how we live The nature of awareness and the influence of habits How cultivating lucidity transforms both our dreams and our waking lives, and more Note: These interviews originally aired on Sounds True One, where these special episodes of Insights at the Edge are available to watch live on video and with exclusive access to Q&As with our guests. Learn more at join.soundstrue.com. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Join Tami Simon and Andrew Holecek for the second half of their exploration of reincarnation. Here, they delve deeper into Tibetan Buddhist perspectives on death, rebirth, and the power of "dark retreat" practice, revealing practical guidance for navigating everyday life. What happens after we die? And what do habits have to do with the process? In this episode of Insights at the Edge, host Tami Simon welcomes Andrew Holecek, scholar, author, and teacher of Tibetan Buddhism and non-dual wisdom traditions. Together, they dive into the mysteries of reincarnation and the "gap between lives." Drawing from Tibetan teachings on the bardos, dream yoga, and the art of dying, Andrew shares practical insights on how these ancient teachings are not just about what happens after death, but also about navigating the transitions and challenges we face here and now.  Join them to explore:  How our beliefs about death deeply inform how we live The nature of awareness and the influence of habits How cultivating lucidity transforms both our dreams and our waking lives, and more Note: These interviews originally aired on Sounds True One, where these special episodes of Insights at the Edge are available to watch live on video and with exclusive access to Q&As with our guests. Learn more at join.soundstrue.com.