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In “The Fourth Turning of the Wheel,” Vince Horn traces the Three Turnings of the Wheel of Dharma from early Buddhism to Tibetan Vajrayana, then argues we're living through new turnings right now—the modern, postmodern, and metamodern waves of Buddhist practice—and asks what it takes to hold them all.Get access to the full Modern Buddhisms training cohort by joining the Pragmatic Dharma Sangha.
Sharon comes together with Mark Epstein to remember the life of dear friend and colleague, Robert AF Thurman, for episode 290 of the Metta Hour. Robert AF Thurman (August 3, 1941 – June 16, 2026) was an American Buddhist author and academic who wrote, edited, and translated books on Tibet, Buddhism, art, politics, and culture. He was the first Westerner to be ordained as a Tibetan Buddhist monk by His Holiness the Dalai Lama and was the Je Tsongkhapa Professor of Indo-Tibetan Buddhist Studies at Columbia University before retiring in 2019. He was the co-founder and president of Tibet House US in New York, New York, and Menla Retreat in Phoenicia, New York. In the Tibetan Buddhist tradition, there is a 49-day period of mourning after an individual dies, which is considered a transitional “bardo” time. This is a time to honor the individual and support them as they transition into their incarnation through ceremonies, offerings, and prayers. In that spirit, Sharon and Mark Epstein come together to share stories and reflections about Bob after his unexpected death. Mark Epstein, M.D., a psychiatrist in private practice in New York City, is the author of a number of books about the interface of Buddhism and psychotherapy, including “Thoughts without a Thinker” and “Going to Pieces without Falling Apart.” His latest work, “The Zen of Therapy,” was published in 2022 by Penguin Press. He has been a student of Vipassana meditation since 1974.This episode also includes an excerpt of an archival recording of Sharon interviewing Bob from 2021. Originally aired on the Metta Hour in celebration of Bob's book “Wisdom is Bliss,” this recording includes some classic zesty-Bob-banter with Sharon, as well as some wonderful teachings. The recording closes with Bob leading a guided meditation."When we opened the Insight Meditation Society in 1976, we discovered we had a near neighbor, about 40 minutes away in Amherst, MA: Professor Bob Thurman. I've felt so lucky to know him as a friend, to have the chance to teach with him through the years, and to collaborate with him on a book, “Love Your Enemies.” Though he was widely known as a dedicated scholar, I was always most struck by Bob as a person of faith in the best sense of the word— faith in each of our potential, in the very real possibility of freedom, in the blessings of lineage and the enormous gifts of people like HH Dalai Lama to the world. Before the sudden, unexpected news of his passing, I noted how much content he was putting on his Substack, what seemed to me almost like a drive to help as many people as he could, to remind us all of hope in these very troubled times. His impact on so many people and the light he spread is so clear right now." - SharonPlease join us as we celebrate and honor a dear friend and dharma teacher who filled our lives with such joy, wisdom, and laughter.Additional ResourcesLearn more about Robert AF Thurman's life and work right here. Read some of the tributes for Bob right here and via Tricycle Magazine. Tune in to the weekly prayers for via the website for Tibet House US right here. Learn more about the book Bob and Sharon co-wrote, “Love Your Enemies” originally released in 2013 with a tenth anniversary edition release in 2023 in hardcover and ebook formats.Related Metta Hour EpisodesEpisode 107 Robert Thurman and Mark Epstein recorded live at Tibet House in 2018, released in the Metta Hour in 2019.Episode 164 Robert Thurman interview on the Metta Hour (partially included in today's episode), released in 2021.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Joel shares reflections on Pema Chodran's book “How We Live is How We Die” and Tibetan Buddhists' work to live life to prepare for the transition from life to death. Joel also reads from Stephen Levine's book “A Year to Live.” We hear a reading from the chapter titled “Fear of Fear." Joel leads us in Levine's “soft belly meditation.”
What do Carl Young's concept of the Daimon And the Buddhist Yidam have in common? In this episode we explore the fascinating overlap between Jungian psychology and Tibetan Buddhist practice period two traditions that recognize the power of connecting with a guiding spiritual presence in your life. We discuss what is a Yiddam And meditational deities in Tibetan Buddhism. Also, we Discuss the inner guiding force that calls us toward our destiny. We also begin our dissection of a Tibetan Buddhist empowerment and what it means to receive and embody a spiritual practice from a living teacher. We discuss inviting in the archetypes and enlightening energies into your life as well as seeing Tantra as a path for transformation not escape. Whether you drawn to depth psychology, Buddhism or the places where they meet, this is a conversation where a doorway into working with the sacred figures that shape us are possible.
Would you like to live in a deeper state of bliss? We've all heard the expression, "Ignorance is bliss," but what if the truth was just the opposite? Lisa continues the conversation today with Professor Robert Thurman, the preeminent scholar and interpreter of Tibetan Buddhist philosophy for the modern world. Professor Thurman believes that "Wisdom is Bliss" and in fact, that's the name of his latest book. He is a very close friend of HH Dalai Lama and today he discusses deep ideas about mindfulness and presence and leads us on a joyful exploration into the nature of reality through Buddha's threefold curriculum of "super-education." He invites us to shift our attention of suffering to know we are part of the bigger flow of life. He asks us to manage our mind and thoughts through meditation, awareness, and compassion. He believes by cultivating intuition, and coming from a perspective of neutrality, we can all attain a more peaceful state. Thurman is Professor of Indo-Tibetan Buddhist Studies at Columbia University as well as Co-Founder and President of Tibet House US in service of HH Dalai Lama and the people of Tibet. He is a leading worldwide lecturer on Tibetan Buddhism, passionate activist for the plight of the Tibetan people, and skilled translator of Buddhist texts. Info: tibethouse.us. This interview was originally taped in September 2021. Professor Robert Thurman passed away in mid-June and we run this in his honor.
Eyes-open meditation can sound like the worst idea if you're used to practice as a private escape. Then Susan Piver walks us through why keeping the eyes open may be the most direct path to mindfulness in real life, because you don't have to “come back” when the sit is over. We talk about the simple mechanics of resting the gaze, why distraction and tired eyes are normal at first, and how the nervous system settles when we stop trying to force focus. From there, the conversation turns to what meditation is really for. We're not training to be impressive meditators. We're training to be more awake, more patient, and less ruled by triggers when life gets loud. Susan shares a teacher's perspective on why the benefits often don't appear during practice, how expanded heart shows up on its own, and why “attention is the most basic form of love” is more than a nice quote, it's a map for how mindfulness practice changes relationships. We also zoom out to the stress of the present moment on planet Earth, using Tibetan Buddhist “six realms” imagery to describe conflict, power grabs, and the exhausted feeling of fighting battles with the wrong tools. The takeaway is grounding and practical: strengthen the human realm by teaching people to work with projection, story, and reactivity, and keep your classes clean, inclusive, simple, and honest. If this helped you, subscribe, share it with a friend who needs steadiness, and leave a review with the biggest takeaway you're practising this week.BECOME A CERTIFIED MINDFULNESS MEDITATION TEACHER Teach mindfulness with confidence and skill — without self-doubt, fear of judgment, or imposter syndrome. Our internationally accredited certification is for therapists, coaches, yoga teachers, educators, and helping professionals. Accredited by the IMMA and CPD; endorsed by Gabor Maté and Rick Hanson. → https://mindfulnessexercises.com/certification/NEW HERE? START FREE Explore 3,000+ free guided meditations, scripts, and worksheets — for your own practice or to share with the people you teach. → https://mindfulnessexercises.com/free-mindfulness-exercises/ENJOYING THE PODCAST? Follow the show in your favorite app and leave a quick rating or review. It takes a moment, and it genuinely helps more teachers and practitioners find these conversations.———————————————————————————ABOUT THE SHOWMindfulness Exercises with Sean Fargo is a practical, grounded mindfulness podcast for people who want meditation to actually help in real life.Hosted by Sean Fargo — a former Buddhist monk, mindfulness teacher, and founder of MindfulnessExercises.com — the show explores how mindfulness can support mental health, emotional regulation, trauma sensitivity, chronic pain, leadership, creativity, and meaningful work.Each episode offers a mix o...
In this episode of The Midlife Purpose Project, I'm joined by author Ann Tashi Slater for a beautiful conversation about bardo, a Tibetan Buddhist concept often translated as an “in-between state.”Ann is the author of Traveling in Bardo, a book about how we move through uncertainty, change, transition, loss, illness, identity shifts, and all the spaces where life no longer looks the way it once did — but the next chapter has not fully arrived.And isn't that so much of midlife?Our bodies change. Our roles change. Our relationships change. Our children grow. Our identities shift. The world around us can feel uncertain and unstable. So often, we want to rush through the discomfort and get to the place where everything finally feels settled.But what if the in-between is not something to escape?What if it is actually a sacred place of possibility, insight, and transformation?In this conversation, Ann and I explore how bardo can help us understand the human experience of impermanence, why our resistance to change often creates more suffering than the change itself, and how we can begin to meet the uncertainty of life with more presence, compassion, and inner steadiness.We also talk about the connection between Tibetan Buddhist wisdom and yoga philosophy, especially around acceptance, karma, action, alignment, and the importance of living in a way that reflects what truly matters to us.This episode is for you if you are in a season of transition, questioning what comes next, grieving a life that no longer exists, or learning how to stop fighting reality and begin listening for the wisdom that can only arrive in the quiet.In This Episode, We Talk AboutWhat bardo means in Tibetan Buddhism and how it applies to everyday lifeWhy midlife can feel like a powerful “in-between” stateHow resistance to change increases sufferingWhy acceptance is not the same as giving upThe relationship between karma, action, and personal agencyHow our thoughts, words, and actions shape the experience of our livesWhy distraction keeps us from seeing clearlyHow to align your time and energy with what matters mostThe importance of listening to your true self beneath conditioning, people-pleasing, and old rolesWhy mortality can help us live with more clarity, courage, and intentionThe possibility hidden inside both voluntary and involuntary transitionsAnn Tashi Slater has written for The New Yorker, The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Paris Review, and many others. In her Darjeeling Journal column for Catapult, she writes about her Tibetan family history and bardo, and she blogged for HuffPost on similar topics. She presents and teaches workshops at Princeton, Columbia, Oxford, Asia Society, and The American University of Paris, among others. Her new book, Traveling in Bardo: The Art of Living in an Impermanent World (Balance/Hachette), has been named a Next Big Idea Club “Must-Read.” Learn more at anntashislater.com.SOCIAL MEDIA:https://www.facebook.com/ann.tashi.slaterhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/ann-tashi-slater-977b21b/https://x.com/anntashislaterhttps://www.instagram.com/anntashislater/If this conversation resonated with you, I would love to invite you to continue the journey with me on Substack, where I share reflections, practices, and resources for midlife women who are seeking peace, clarity, purpose, and a way back home to themselves.And if you are in your own in-between season and would like support reconnecting with yourself and creating a more aligned life, you can visit my website or book a discovery call using the links in the show notes.About Katie FarinasKatie Farinas is a midlife coach, yoga teacher, and spiritual guide who helps women navigate midlife with clarity, peace, purpose, and empowerment. Through yoga philosophy, mindfulness, nervous system regulation, and energy-based practices, Katie supports women in reconnecting with themselves and stepping fully into their most aligned and authentic lives.✨ Ways To Go Deeper:If you're ready to feel less overwhelmed and more connected to your body, needs, and inner voice, explore my 4-week private coaching experience for midlife women: Reconnect With Your Body and Yourself. Learn more here.Record your question here and I will answer it on the show!! https://www.speakpipe.com/KatieFarinasJoin the Monthly SatsangVisit Katie's websiteJoin the newsletter for soulful insights and to receive weekly practicesRead and watch on SubstackBook a reflective Insight Seat to come on the show and receive live coachingSchedule a Clarity Call to see if my coaching is right for you.
Not knowing as mystery is moving, inspiring, and initiating, alive to not knowing that it knows. Join Lama Yeshe for a spacious Dharma talk, active contemplation, and guided meditation on living from the fullness of who we are.FULL MOON SIT is an ongoing series offering Tibetan Buddhist meditation instruction and practice Make a dana offeringPRAJNA FIRE is a United States 501(c)(3) nonprofit religious organization. Your donation is tax-deductible to the extent allowed by applicable law.Learn more about meditative inquiry and the integrative dharma practice of listening, contemplating, and meditating from Prajna Rising, our online journal.PUBLISHED ARTICLEShttps://www.prajnafire.com/mediaSubscribe to Prajna Fire's newsletter on Substackhttps://prajnafire.substack.comFOLLOW USJoin the Prajna Fire Global Community Private Teaching Sessions Book Online at Prajna Fire with immediate confirmation (https://www.prajnafire.com/book-online)EMAIL US sparks@prajnafire.comFIND US on the Prajna Fire website (https://www.prajnafire.com/sparks)@prajnasparks on Facebook, Instagram, and TwitterYouTube (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCRUzGmU7c4_TJdLhG9R8IDA/videos)
Episode #562: “I thought there was something, but I didn't know there was a way to get there.” That sense of longing has shaped Eion Meades's spiritual life. His father abandoned the family when Meades was around ten years old, leaving his mother to raise six children while working long hours as a cleaner. He drifted toward crime and bad behavior before leaving home at fifteen. He hitchhiked across Australia and New Zealand, then traveled through Asia. Not finding a clear spiritual path on his travels, be returned to Australia to join Chenrezig Institute, a fledgling Tibetan Buddhist community there. Meades became one of the earliest residents and builders of what later grew into a major Tibetan Buddhist center. The Buddhist community gave him structure, intellectual clarity, and a disciplined path toward awakening. “I felt, ‘Ah, this is it, I'm home!'” The commitment of the community to building the center inspired him. Over time, however, he sought more meditative depth than he felt Chenrezig provided, and turned to Robert Hover, an American teacher from the U Ba Khin Vipassana lineage. Under Hover's guidance, Meades's practice became an intense confrontation with fear, emotion, and altered states of consciousness. He describes Hover as almost shamanic, representing a more personal and experimental form of Vipassana practice. Another decisive influence came through Mary, an older psychic medium connected to the Tibetan Buddhist community. Through her, Meades encountered trance mediumship, spirit guides, visions, and other experiences that defied “rational” explanation. Mary eventually led him away from the security of institutional Buddhism and into a more uncertain but deeply personal spiritual path. Later, another U Ba Khin lineage teacher, John Coleman, became important to Meades because he was willing to seriously discuss experiences that seemed to blur the boundary between deep meditation and psychic phenomena. Meades came away feeling that some advanced meditative states naturally opened unusual capacities, even if Buddhist traditions often hesitated to speak openly about them. Through all his experiences, Meades never lost sight of awakening as the central aim of spiritual life. Looking back, he describes spiritual growth as a long process of integration and transformation. By the end of his reflections, he speaks less about institutions or psychic abilities than about what spiritual practice ultimately leaves behind. As he puts it, “the wisdom and love you gain in this life will never be lost.”
Links For The Occult Rejectshttps://linktr.ee/theoccultrejectsOccult Research Institutehttps://www.occultresearchinstitute.org/Substackhttps://substack.com/@theoccultrejects?r=7auau0&utm_campaign=profile&utm_medium=profile-pageCash Apphttps://cash.app/$theoccultrejectsVenmo@TheOccultRejectsBuy Me A Coffeebuymeacoffee.com/TheOccultRejectsPatreonhttps://www.patreon.com/TheOccultRejectsBibliographyAguilar, L. A., et al. “Total Solar Eclipse Triggers Dawn Behavior in Birds.” Science, 2025. Used for the updated science support showing that the April 8, 2024 total eclipse altered North American bird behavior, including dawn-like vocal responses.Britannica. “9 Celestial Omens.” Used for the Thales / Battle of the Eclipse tradition and the broader theme of celestial events being interpreted as historical omens.Britannica. “Apopis.” Used for Apep/Apopis as the serpent enemy of Re/Ra, the demon of chaos, and the force outside the ordered cosmos.Britannica. “Eclipse — Medieval European.” Used for medieval eclipse records, especially the 733 CE annular eclipse described as a “black and horrid shield.”Britannica. “Hindu Calendar.” Used for Hindu sacred timing, lunar-solar calendrical structure, and the religious context that helps explain eclipse observance as ritually serious time.Britannica. “Ma'at.” Used for Ma'at as truth, justice, balance, and cosmic order in ancient Egyptian religion.Britannica. “Navagraha.” Used for Rahu and Ketu as eclipse-associated shadow planets and lunar-node powers in Indian astral religion.Britannica. “Samudra Manthana / Churning of the Ocean of Milk.” Used for the mythic background of devas, asuras, amrita, Vishnu, Mohini, Rahu, and Ketu.Britannica. “Solar Eclipse.” Used for basic solar-eclipse definition and the Moon's shadow crossing Earth.Britannica. “The Sun Was Eaten: 6 Ways Cultures Have Explained Eclipses.” Used for comparative eclipse mythology, especially devourer myths, Chinese dragon traditions, Rahu, and Batammaliba reconciliation themes.Britannica. “What Causes Lunar and Solar Eclipses?” Used for clear basic mechanics of lunar and solar eclipses.CDLI / Cuneiform Digital Library Initiative. “Solar Omens of Enūma Anu Enlil: Tablets 23 (24)–29 (30).” Used for bibliographic information on van Soldt's edition of the solar omen tablets.European Space Agency. “27 August.” Used for the 413 BCE lunar eclipse during the Athenian retreat from Syracuse and Nicias' delay.Exploratorium. “Eclipse Stories from Around the World.” Used for global comparative eclipse stories, including Norse wolves, Batammaliba reconciliation, and other recurring mythic patterns.Foundation for the Preservation of the Mahayana Tradition. “Practice During Solar and Lunar Eclipses.” Used for Tibetan Buddhist practice advice, merit multiplication, and eclipse as intensified sacred time.Izzuddin, Ahmad, Mohamad A. Imroni, Ali Imron, and Mahsun. “Cultural Myth of Eclipse in a Central Javanese Village: Between Islamic Identity and Local Tradition.” HTS Teologiese Studies/Theological Studies, 2022. Used for Batara Kala, eclipse devouring myths in Java, pregnancy/livestock concerns, and living village practice.NASA. “Why Do Eclipses Happen?” NASA Science. Used for solar and lunar eclipse geometry, alignment, lunar nodes, and the reason eclipses do not occur every month.NASA Space Place. “Lunar Eclipses and Solar Eclipses.” Used for simple public-facing explanations of solar and lunar eclipse mechanics.National Folk Museum of Korea. “Solar and Lunar Eclipse / Ilsik, Wolsik.” Used for Bulgae, the Korean fire dogs from the Dark World who cause eclipses by biting the Sun and Moon.NOAA NESDIS. “NOAA Satellites View Total Solar Eclipse.” Used for environmental effects during totality, including temperature drops, changes in local air circulation, cloud behavior, and animal confusion.Rochester, University of. “Surprising Facts and Beliefs About Eclipses During Medieval and Renaissance Times.” Used for the point that medieval astronomers understood eclipse prediction while still interpreting eclipses as morally or religiously serious.Sefaria. Sukkah 29a. Used for rabbinic material treating eclipses as ominous signs.Sunnah.com. Sahih al-Bukhari, Book 16, “Eclipses.” Used for the hadith that the Sun and Moon do not eclipse because of the life or death of any person and that the correct response is prayer and invocation.The Metropolitan Museum of Art. “The Solar Eclipse and the Substitute King.” Used for Mesopotamian eclipse omens, danger to the king, priestly divination, substitute kingship, and the šar pūḫi ritual.U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service. “Wildlife Behavior and a Solar Eclipse.” Used for darkening skies, cooling temperatures, and wildlife shifting toward nighttime routines.University of Pittsburgh World History Center. Lilly Taylor, “Solar Eclipses and World History.” Used for the Batammaliba tradition of making peace and ending disputes during eclipse.van Soldt, Wilfred H. Solar Omens of Enūma Anu Enlil: Tablets 23 (24)–29 (30). Leiden: Nederlands Historisch-Archaeologisch Instituut te Istanbul, 1995. Used for Mesopotamian solar omen literature and the textual archive of unusual solar phenomena.This keeps Part 1 sourced without dragging Part 2's Mesoamerica, Andes, North American Indigenous, Australian, Arctic, Pacific, colonial, and modern eclipse-pilgrimage sources into the wrong half.Also want to remind people about the website, if you're into reading we have tons of information by multiple contributors, and we got t-shirts up on the site if you're interested. Fun fact, the art is all based on the eyeball. A
The Power of Publishing in Early Modern Tibetan Buddhism (Lexington Books, 2025) is a rich exploration of the history of Tibetan books during the late seventeenth and early eighteenth centuries. Looking at this ‘golden age' of book production, Benjamin Nourse focuses on two core topics: What was driving Tibetan publishing in the eighteenth century, and what happened as a result of that growth? How should we understand Tibetan Buddhist ideas and practices related to religious books? Through individual chapters on publishing in Lhasa, Qing Beijing, Derge, Chone, and Labrang, Nourse shows how Tibetan books operated simultaneously as religious objects, political tools, and markers of cultural authority. Across each, we see books being used in different ways: as a way of cementing the authority of the Fifth Dalai Lama, as part of Beijing's emergence as a major center for Tibetan Buddhist publishing, and as objects that people engaged with through reading, chanting, translation, and ritual practice. This book should naturally appeal to those interested in Tibetan Buddhism, religion, and early modern Asia — but it is also a valuable contribution to book history, print culture, and the study of how the production of books can shape political authority and religious practice. 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
The Power of Publishing in Early Modern Tibetan Buddhism (Lexington Books, 2025) is a rich exploration of the history of Tibetan books during the late seventeenth and early eighteenth centuries. Looking at this ‘golden age' of book production, Benjamin Nourse focuses on two core topics: What was driving Tibetan publishing in the eighteenth century, and what happened as a result of that growth? How should we understand Tibetan Buddhist ideas and practices related to religious books? Through individual chapters on publishing in Lhasa, Qing Beijing, Derge, Chone, and Labrang, Nourse shows how Tibetan books operated simultaneously as religious objects, political tools, and markers of cultural authority. Across each, we see books being used in different ways: as a way of cementing the authority of the Fifth Dalai Lama, as part of Beijing's emergence as a major center for Tibetan Buddhist publishing, and as objects that people engaged with through reading, chanting, translation, and ritual practice. This book should naturally appeal to those interested in Tibetan Buddhism, religion, and early modern Asia — but it is also a valuable contribution to book history, print culture, and the study of how the production of books can shape political authority and religious practice. 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
This is the third of three sessions of an on-line Mastery Empowerment course where we will be learning how to work with various states of consciousness available during our dreaming and sleep state. We will be utilizing both ancient and modern consciousness technologies to learn to stay aware and awake while dreaming and sleeping. These states of consciousness are helpful to work with now because they are the same states of consciousness that we will experience while dying and during the afterlife. In addition, we will be downloading and structuring our subtle bodies and consciousness with information on these practices with the help of the Arcturian Spiritual Beings.The following are some of the topics that will be covered in the course:-The importance of working with your dream and sleep states.-How the dream and sleep states correspond with the states of death, dying, and the afterlife.-Specific practices from the Tibetan Buddhist schools of dream and sleep yoga.-Which technology tools of consciousness are used to induce lucid dreams.-Which technology tools of consciousness are used to induce lucid sleep states.-How to incorporate these dream and sleep practices into your daily life and meditations.-Certain breathing practices that can be done to improve lucidity.-The energetic architecture of the subtle bodies involved with lucid dreaming and sleeping-Three Arcturian Activations each 40 minutes long that will work on your subtle bodies and consciousness to improve lucidity in dreams and sleep. There will also be a meditation sequence embedded during the activations to work with the energy centers involved with dream and sleep yogas.
The Power of Publishing in Early Modern Tibetan Buddhism (Lexington Books, 2025) is a rich exploration of the history of Tibetan books during the late seventeenth and early eighteenth centuries. Looking at this ‘golden age' of book production, Benjamin Nourse focuses on two core topics: What was driving Tibetan publishing in the eighteenth century, and what happened as a result of that growth? How should we understand Tibetan Buddhist ideas and practices related to religious books? Through individual chapters on publishing in Lhasa, Qing Beijing, Derge, Chone, and Labrang, Nourse shows how Tibetan books operated simultaneously as religious objects, political tools, and markers of cultural authority. Across each, we see books being used in different ways: as a way of cementing the authority of the Fifth Dalai Lama, as part of Beijing's emergence as a major center for Tibetan Buddhist publishing, and as objects that people engaged with through reading, chanting, translation, and ritual practice. This book should naturally appeal to those interested in Tibetan Buddhism, religion, and early modern Asia — but it is also a valuable contribution to book history, print culture, and the study of how the production of books can shape political authority and religious practice. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/central-asian-studies
The Power of Publishing in Early Modern Tibetan Buddhism (Lexington Books, 2025) is a rich exploration of the history of Tibetan books during the late seventeenth and early eighteenth centuries. Looking at this ‘golden age' of book production, Benjamin Nourse focuses on two core topics: What was driving Tibetan publishing in the eighteenth century, and what happened as a result of that growth? How should we understand Tibetan Buddhist ideas and practices related to religious books? Through individual chapters on publishing in Lhasa, Qing Beijing, Derge, Chone, and Labrang, Nourse shows how Tibetan books operated simultaneously as religious objects, political tools, and markers of cultural authority. Across each, we see books being used in different ways: as a way of cementing the authority of the Fifth Dalai Lama, as part of Beijing's emergence as a major center for Tibetan Buddhist publishing, and as objects that people engaged with through reading, chanting, translation, and ritual practice. This book should naturally appeal to those interested in Tibetan Buddhism, religion, and early modern Asia — but it is also a valuable contribution to book history, print culture, and the study of how the production of books can shape political authority and religious practice. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
The Power of Publishing in Early Modern Tibetan Buddhism (Lexington Books, 2025) is a rich exploration of the history of Tibetan books during the late seventeenth and early eighteenth centuries. Looking at this ‘golden age' of book production, Benjamin Nourse focuses on two core topics: What was driving Tibetan publishing in the eighteenth century, and what happened as a result of that growth? How should we understand Tibetan Buddhist ideas and practices related to religious books? Through individual chapters on publishing in Lhasa, Qing Beijing, Derge, Chone, and Labrang, Nourse shows how Tibetan books operated simultaneously as religious objects, political tools, and markers of cultural authority. Across each, we see books being used in different ways: as a way of cementing the authority of the Fifth Dalai Lama, as part of Beijing's emergence as a major center for Tibetan Buddhist publishing, and as objects that people engaged with through reading, chanting, translation, and ritual practice. This book should naturally appeal to those interested in Tibetan Buddhism, religion, and early modern Asia — but it is also a valuable contribution to book history, print culture, and the study of how the production of books can shape political authority and religious practice. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/buddhist-studies
The Power of Publishing in Early Modern Tibetan Buddhism (Lexington Books, 2025) is a rich exploration of the history of Tibetan books during the late seventeenth and early eighteenth centuries. Looking at this ‘golden age' of book production, Benjamin Nourse focuses on two core topics: What was driving Tibetan publishing in the eighteenth century, and what happened as a result of that growth? How should we understand Tibetan Buddhist ideas and practices related to religious books? Through individual chapters on publishing in Lhasa, Qing Beijing, Derge, Chone, and Labrang, Nourse shows how Tibetan books operated simultaneously as religious objects, political tools, and markers of cultural authority. Across each, we see books being used in different ways: as a way of cementing the authority of the Fifth Dalai Lama, as part of Beijing's emergence as a major center for Tibetan Buddhist publishing, and as objects that people engaged with through reading, chanting, translation, and ritual practice. This book should naturally appeal to those interested in Tibetan Buddhism, religion, and early modern Asia — but it is also a valuable contribution to book history, print culture, and the study of how the production of books can shape political authority and religious practice. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/religion
The Power of Publishing in Early Modern Tibetan Buddhism (Lexington Books, 2025) is a rich exploration of the history of Tibetan books during the late seventeenth and early eighteenth centuries. Looking at this ‘golden age' of book production, Benjamin Nourse focuses on two core topics: What was driving Tibetan publishing in the eighteenth century, and what happened as a result of that growth? How should we understand Tibetan Buddhist ideas and practices related to religious books? Through individual chapters on publishing in Lhasa, Qing Beijing, Derge, Chone, and Labrang, Nourse shows how Tibetan books operated simultaneously as religious objects, political tools, and markers of cultural authority. Across each, we see books being used in different ways: as a way of cementing the authority of the Fifth Dalai Lama, as part of Beijing's emergence as a major center for Tibetan Buddhist publishing, and as objects that people engaged with through reading, chanting, translation, and ritual practice. This book should naturally appeal to those interested in Tibetan Buddhism, religion, and early modern Asia — but it is also a valuable contribution to book history, print culture, and the study of how the production of books can shape political authority and religious practice. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/communications
We've all heard the expression, "Ignorance is bliss," but what if the truth was just the opposite? Professor Robert Thurman, the preeminent scholar and interpreter of Tibetan Buddhist philosophy for the modern world, believes that "Wisdom is Bliss" and in fact, that's the name of his latest book. Professor Thurman is a very close friend of HH Dalai Lama and today he discusses deep ideas about mindfulness and presence and leads us on a joyful exploration into the nature of reality through Buddha's threefold curriculum of "super-education." He invites us to shift our attention of suffering to know we are part of the bigger flow of life. He asks us to manage our mind and thoughts through meditation, awareness, and compassion. He believes by cultivating intuition, and coming from a perspective of neutrality, we can all attain a more peaceful state. Thurman is Professor of Indo-Tibetan Buddhist Studies at Columbia University as well as Co-Founder and President of Tibet House US in service of HH Dalai Lama and the people of Tibet. He is a leading worldwide lecturer on Tibetan Buddhism, passionate activist for the plight of the Tibetan people, and skilled translator of Buddhist texts. Info: tibethouse.us. This interview was originally taped in September 2021. Professor Robert Thurman passed away in mid-June and we run this in his honor.
The Buddha taught a path of awakened living, but how does that manifest in today's world of constant connectivity and widespread suffering? How do we keep our hearts open without being defined or hardened by the pain that surrounds us, whether personal, collective, or historical? How do we navigate the paradox of holding both pain and joy, without mistaking suffering for punishment or personal failure? Can we infuse our compassion with wisdom and perspective to find the agency to take meaningful action in our communities? In her new series, Engaged Compassion, Sharon delves into these questions and more, engaging in candid conversations with a diverse group of teachers, activists, and changemakers. For the seventh episode in the series, Sharon's speaks with teacher Geshe Lobsang Tenzin Negi, marking his first appearance on the Metta Hour.Geshe Lobsang Tenzin Negi, PhD, is the cofounder and director of the Emory-Tibet Partnership, a multi-dimensional initiative founded in 1998 to bring together the foremost contributions of the Western scholastic tradition and the Tibetan Buddhist sciences of mind and healing. He is also professor of practice in Emory University's Department of Religion. In 2018, he launched, with the Dalai Lama, SEE Learning, a free compassion curriculum for children. Geshe Lobsang, a former monk, was born in Kinnaur, a small Himalayan kingdom adjoining Tibet. He began his monastic training at the Institute of Buddhist Dialectics and continued his education at Drepung Loseling Monastery in south India, where he received his Geshe Lharampa degree in 1994, the highest academic degree granted in the Tibetan Buddhist tradition.In this conversation, Geshe and Sharon speak about:• How Geshe grew up in the Himalayas • Becoming a monk at age 14 in 1974• Geshe and Sharon's first meeting • Center for Contemplative Science and Compassion-Based Ethics• Cognitively Based Compassion Training • What neuroscience says about compassion• Tania Singer's research work• Richie Davidson's discovery with neuroplasticity• The inner qualities that are actually skills• Putting compassion into real action• How discernment must guide compassion• Story of the starfish on the beach• How small acts of kindness affect others• Developing the inner disposition for kindness• Is compassion fatigue actually compassion?• The natural reciprocity of compassion • “Compassionomics” by Stephen Trzeciak• Why self-compassion is a struggle• Accepting the human condition• Drepung Loseling Monastery• H.H. Dalai Lama's SEE Learning ProgramAdditional ResourcesGeshe Lobsang closes out the conversation with a guided gratitude practice from his book, Engaged Compassion. Learn more about Geshe Lobsang's work right here. Get a copy of his new book right here and explore the SEE Learning Program right here.Help us celebrate 10 years of Be Here Now Network and support the next chapter of Ram Dass Here and Now. Gifts are matched dollar for dollar through June 30. Learn more and give at https://beherenownetwork.com/10years.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Host Reuben Elstub of Stride and Co-Host Pat Blacker of Standby are joined by Justin Bergholcs, Mental Health Consultant, Mentor and Tibetan Buddhist, for a really engaging, deep discussion on men's mental health and support services.Big thanks to Radio Blue Mountains,Raine & Horne, Wentworth Falls, Cortado's Coffee Shop, Lawson,Ilana's Delicious Skin food
Following the passing of Robert Thurman, we wanted to revisit one of our favorite conversations with the beloved scholar, teacher, and pioneer who helped bring Tibetan Buddhist wisdom to the modern world.A former monk ordained by His Holiness the Dalai Lama, Columbia University professor, bestselling author, and co-founder of Tibet House US, Thurman devoted his life to sharing profound insights on compassion, interconnectedness, and human flourishing. His books, teachings, and joyful spirit inspired generations of students and seekers around the world.In this memorable conversation, we explore the illusion of separateness, the nature of reality, and the possibility that our deepest nature is joy itself. Thurman once said this was one of his favorite interviews, and we're grateful to share it again in celebration of his extraordinary life and enduring legacy.Episode 224: Remembering Robert Thurman: Psychonaut, Scholar, and Friend Join our third annual How to Train a Happy Mind three-day in-person retreat in California's redwoods August 13–16. LEARN MOREIf you'd like to practice with others and bring these ideas into your life, join our weekly meditation community with Scott.
The world of Buddhist scholarship has lost one of its most influential voices. Robert Thurman, the pioneering scholar, author, father of actor Uma Thurman, and advocate for Tibetan Buddhism, died yesterday in Woodstock, New York. He was 84.Thurman spent decades introducing Western audiences to Tibetan Buddhist philosophy and culture, serving for 30 years as Columbia University's Professor of Indo-Tibetan Buddhist Studies. A close friend and longtime student of the Dalai Lama, he was the first American ordained as a Tibetan Buddhist monk and later co-founded Tibet House US, dedicated to preserving Tibetan culture in exile.Named by Time magazine as one of America's most influential thinkers, Thurman leaves behind a profound intellectual and spiritual legacy that shaped generations of students, readers, and practitioners.I spoke with him in 2017 about his book, 'Man of Peace: The Illustrated Life Story of the Dalai Lama of Tibet.' We play a portion of that interview this morning, in memoriam, where he talks about how he began his friendship with the Dalai Lama.
Newt talks with Ambassador Sam Brownback about his new book, “China’s War on Faith.” Brownback, who previously served as a United States Senator, the 46th governor of Kansas and Ambassador-at-Large for International Religious Freedom, has decades of experience on the frontlines fighting for religious liberty around the world. Brownback argues the Chinese Communist Party sees religious freedom as an existential threat and has engaged in a ruthless campaign to suppress people of faith, including forced organ harvesting on the Falun Gong. He believes the party's crackdown on religious groups like the Tibetan Buddhists and Uyghur Muslims constitutes genocide. Brownback calls for the U.S. to elevate religious freedom as a strategic issue in confronting China's totalitarianism.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
“I often feel like the work is kind of a disintegrative work that we’re doing, we’re allowing the patterns and the structures to release, so that there’s sort of nowhere left to go, because there’s nothing left to lose.” – Julia Bodkin Beloved Hoffman Process facilitator and psychotherapist, Julia Bodkin, first took the Process in India in her very early adulthood. After living quite a bit of life, she took it again in Australia. Now, as a trained professional in many healing modalities, Julia facilitates the Process in the U.K. She brings a lifetime of experience, wisdom, and expertise, along with her generous, vulnerable heart. In her youth, Julia wondered if there could be more to life than just getting a job and settling down. She grew up in a middle-class British family that, to her, seemed very “dull.” So she left the U.K. and travelled around India until she came to Pune, India, where she studied on and off for ten years. Along her journey, having worked within many of the great schools of spiritual transformation, Julia knew she was seeking enlightenment and an “everlasting blissful state.” Through study, teaching, and much meditation, she’s, over time, found herself settling into an awakening and the embodiment of her true nature. Julia now sees it as “settling into what is.” In teaching the Process, Julia shares how beautiful it is to watch students soften into themselves. She shares that in shedding patterns, they start “to get familiar with something that they’ve been trying to avoid, and realize how beautiful it is, and how much more open, and how much sweeter it is to have that connection with themselves.“ We know you’ll love this conversation with Julia and Drew. It’s filled with many bits of Hoffman history that might be new to you. Listen on Apple Podcasts More about Julia Bodkin: Julia Bodkin has been a Hoffman Process facilitator since 2014. She completed the Process, trained in Australia, and is now based in Devon, in the U.K., where she has a private psychotherapy practice. Julia’s work is inspired by more than 35 years of personal and professional immersion in different schools of psychotherapy and meditation. She has a degree in psychotherapy and a long career as a therapist in private practice, individually and with groups. Julia has worked as an addiction therapist at the original Priory Hospital in London. For 15 years, Julia was a co-creator and a senior facilitator of The Path of Love process. She has been a senior teacher of the Diamond Logos Teaching since the late 1990's. She has expertise and experience in Trauma Healing/SE®, Addiction Treatment, Gestalt Therapy, Group Therapy, Family Therapy & Family Constellation, and is also a Craniosacral Therapy practitioner. As a traveller, Julia has lived and worked on several continents and is passionate about supporting people in reconnecting with their true nature. As mentioned in this episode: County of Devon, South West England. • Dartmoor, an upland area in southern Bob Hoffman, Founder of the Hoffman Process Osho Ashram, Pune, India Pokhara, Nepal • White water rafting North of India, in the Tibetan Buddhist area of Ladakh The Path of Love Faisal Muqaddam Diamond Logos™ Teachings The Diamond Approach, Ridhwan School • Ali Hameed Almaas (A. H. Almaas) • Karen Johnson Claudio Naranjo • Enneagram • SAT: Seekers After Truth The Priory, London, England Negative Love • A Path to Personal Freedom & Love: Written by Bob Hoffman. Download and read in PDF form. • Listen to Drew and Andy Milberg, Hoffman teacher: Exploring the Negative Love Syndrome Zen Buddhist Koans • How to practice Zen Koans. Spiritual Self • Essence, the Essential Self, your True Nature
This is an excerpt from a patrons-only episode. To hear the full thing, plus dozens more like it, visit Patreon.com/LoveMessagePod.We continue our mini-series on Arthur Russell by turning to his mid-70s pop and folk work. Starting in the famous Poet's Building in 1975, Tim and Jeremy explore life in the East Village, in particular the area's poetry scene. They discuss the aesthetics of setting spoken word to music, stop by Ginsberg, and drop in some Tibetan Buddhist classes. Elsewhere in the episode we hear about a number of recording sessions at the Columbia Records studio, get haunted by the spectre of Dylan, and speculate on whether Arthur could have been the fourth Talking Head. Tim shares some demos from Arthur's short-lived band the Flying Hearts, a version of Psycho Killer with punchy cello that didn't make the final cut, and some Laraaji-ish keyboard noodlings.www.loveisthemessagepod.co.ukPatreon.com/LoveMessagePodProduced by Matt Huxley.Books:Philippe Bourgeois - In Search of Respect: Selling Crack in El BarrioTracklist:Arthur Russell - Barefoot in New York William Carlos Williams - The Red Wheelbarrow Bright and Early - Apple to the Orange Arthur Russell - Nobody Wants a Lonely Heart Arthur Russell - I Couldn't Say it to Your Face Arthur Russell - Reach One (with Two Fender Rhodes) Talking Heads - The Girls Want to be with the Girls Talking Heads - Psycho Killer (acoustic version) The Flying Hearts - Ballad of the Lights The Flying Hearts - What's It Like
This is the second of three sessions of an on-line Mastery Empowerment course where we will be learning how to work with various states of consciousness available during our dreaming and sleep state. We will be utilizing both ancient and modern consciousness technologies to learn to stay aware and awake while dreaming and sleeping. These states of consciousness are helpful to work with now because they are the same states of consciousness that we will experience while dying and during the afterlife. In addition, we will be downloading and structuring our subtle bodies and consciousness with information on these practices with the help of the Arcturian Spiritual Beings.The following are some of the topics that will be covered in the course:-The importance of working with your dream and sleep states.-How the dream and sleep states correspond with the states of death, dying, and the afterlife.-Specific practices from the Tibetan Buddhist schools of dream and sleep yoga.-Which technology tools of consciousness are used to induce lucid dreams.-Which technology tools of consciousness are used to induce lucid sleep states.-How to incorporate these dream and sleep practices into your daily life and meditations.-Certain breathing practices that can be done to improve lucidity.-The energetic architecture of the subtle bodies involved with lucid dreaming and sleeping-Three Arcturian Activations each 40 minutes long that will work on your subtle bodies and consciousness to improve lucidity in dreams and sleep. There will also be a meditation sequence embedded during the activations to work with the energy centers involved with dream and sleep yogas.
June Heintz, Mother, Wife & Tibetan Buddhist, joined Marc Hunt live on A Life, Unedited! A Life, Unedited airs live Wednesday from 10:15 pm – 11:00 am on The I Love CVille Network. “A Life, Unedited” is presented by Martha Jefferson House.
Integrity not as moral perfection, but as the growing coherence of a life that gathers every experience into the path without letting any fragment overrule the whole. Join Lama Yeshe for a spacious Dharma talk, active contemplation, and guided meditation on living from the fullness of who we are.FULL MOON SIT is an ongoing series offering Tibetan Buddhist meditation instruction and practice Make a dana offeringPRAJNA FIRE is a United States 501(c)(3) nonprofit religious organization. Your donation is tax-deductible to the extent allowed by applicable law.Learn more about meditative inquiry and the integrative dharma practice of listening, contemplating, and meditating from Prajna Rising, our online journal.PUBLISHED ARTICLEShttps://www.prajnafire.com/mediaSubscribe to Prajna Fire's newsletter on Substackhttps://prajnafire.substack.comFOLLOW USJoin the Prajna Fire Global Community Private Teaching Sessions Book Online at Prajna Fire with immediate confirmation (https://www.prajnafire.com/book-online)EMAIL US sparks@prajnafire.comFIND US on the Prajna Fire website (https://www.prajnafire.com/sparks)@prajnasparks on Facebook, Instagram, and TwitterYouTube (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCRUzGmU7c4_TJdLhG9R8IDA/videos)
In this episode of the State of Mind Mental Health Podcast, I sit down with Bill Belanger — psychotherapist, 20+ year Buddhist meditation practitioner, and longtime student of Harvard psychologist and Tibetan Buddhist teacher Dr. Daniel Brown — to unpack what gets lost when Buddhist psychology is repackaged as Western wellness. Bill is writing a book on integrating Buddhism with Western psychology, and he walks me through the three levels the Buddhist tradition uses to explain why we suffer: chronic reactivity, emptiness of self, and non-dual awareness. Along the way we get into: Why "McMindfulness" leaves people underwhelmed The difference between compassion meditation and mindfulness — and why compassion might be the better starting point How Buddhist ethics map onto the 12 steps The community problem in Western Buddhism Why MBSR, ACT, DBT, and IFS all owe Buddhism a quiet debt Matthieu Ricard, "the happiest man alive," and intelligent selfishness How parts work (IFS / voice dialogue) makes compassion practice actually workable Meditation for people with ADHD If you've ever felt like your meditation practice plateaued, or wondered what's under the surface of all the mindfulness apps, this is a conversation I think you'll get a lot out of. Learn more about Bill: billbelanger.com Chapters 0:00 - Cold open: what mindfulness leaves out 0:45 - Meet Bill Belanger 3:00 - Buddhist psychology vs Western therapy 5:15 - "I can't meditate" — the biggest myth 7:20 - The problem with McMindfulness 11:00 - Ethics, the 12 steps, and living the practice 19:50 - Finding community in Western Buddhism 23:45 - Where MBSR actually fits 25:50 - The 3 levels of why we suffer 30:00 - Emptiness and the sensory bubble 33:00 - Investigating the self in meditation 38:15 - Non-dual awareness, Dzogchen, Mahamudra 45:40 - The six meditation styles in Bill's book 50:55 - ACT, DBT, IFS, and Buddhism's quiet influence 54:55 - Matthieu Ricard & the happiest man alive 59:05 - Parts work, voice dialogue & "idiot compassion" 1:05:40 - Bill's book, website & closing thoughts Free 1-month of the Meditation App - Waking Up https://dynamic.wakingup.com/guestpass/SC58BD912 Please Subscribe to my YouTube - YouTube Subscription Link Disclaimer Professional medical care and psychotherapeutic services are not offered on this Youtube channel. It is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute the practice of medicine, nursing or other professional health care services, including the giving of medical advice, and no doctor/patient relationship is formed. The use of information on this podcast or materials linked from this podcast is at the user's own risk. The content of this podcast is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Users should not disregard or delay in obtaining medical advice for any medical condition they may have and should seek the assistance of their health care professionals for any such condition. Seeking professional support is encouraged if you think you have an issue and that you want help.
Most responses to civilizational crises focus outward – policy levers, energy systems, geopolitical actors, and material flows – with little focus on how the humans inside these systems might change and grow in parallel. At the same time, the minds that built this complex and fragile world are also the instruments we must use to navigate its unraveling, making them a critical factor in defining humanity's future. With that said, who will we be as simplification unfolds, and how do we prepare our inner terrains for what's coming? In this episode, Nate is joined by meditation practitioner, Andrew Holecek, for an exploration of the concept of dark retreats, periods of extended time in complete absence of light, as a practical path toward reflection and reconnection with ourselves and others. Andrew draws on decades of study in Tibetan Buddhism and non-dual wisdom traditions to explore how the external complexity of modern life is mirrored in the internal complexity of the modern mind. Central to his work is the concept of non-duality: a return from the fragmented display of self-versus-world toward a more unified, less suffering-prone relationship with reality. Andrew and Nate also explore the misleading entanglement of happiness and consumption, arguing that satisfaction arises not from acquiring what we want, but from the cessation of wanting itself. What would it mean to practice darkness as a needed reprieve from constant light and stimulation, rather than deprivation? If the coming decades hold a forced reduction in external, material complexity, how could a deepening of our internal worlds make us more resilient, compassionate, and grounded? And could confronting fear – by learning to move through it rather than avoid it – be one of the most practical preparations for navigating future uncertainty and social fracture? (Conversation recorded on April 28th, 2026) About Dr. Andrew Holecek: Andrew Holecek is an interdisciplinary scholar-practitioner in Tibetan Buddhism and other nondual wisdom traditions who has spent over thirty years helping people transform life's greatest challenges into opportunities for awakening. A dedicated meditation practitioner who completed the traditional Tibetan Buddhist three-year retreat, Andrew is known for making profound contemplative practices accessible and practical. He is actively involved in scientific research on dark retreat with the University of Wisconsin-Madison, as well as the Institute for Advanced Consciousness Studies where he serves as Resident Contemplative Scholar. Andrew is a member of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine, the author of several scientific papers on lucid dreaming, and was also the host of the now-concluded Edge of Mind podcast, where he interviewed guests to explore ancient teachings and modern topics about the nature of mind and reality. Andrew's newest area of focus is dark retreat, the ancient Buddhist practice of extended meditation in complete darkness. His most recent book, Total Eclipse of the Mind: Unleashing the Power of Darkness for Creativity, Healing, and Transformation, draws on more than thirty years of personal dark retreat experience. True to his approach, Andrew teaches dark retreat – and the more accessible gray retreat practice of weaving in and out of darkness – as a genuine path to healing, creativity, and self-understanding. Show Notes and More Watch this video episode on YouTube Want to learn the broad overview of The Great Simplification in 30 minutes? Watch our Animated Movie. --- Support The Institute for the Study of Energy and Our Future Join our Substack newsletter Join our Hylo channel and connect with other listeners
What if the most transformative practice available to us requires nothing but complete darkness? Tami Simon speaks with interdisciplinary scholar and Tibetan Buddhist practitioner Andrew Holecek—author of Total Eclipse of the Mind—about the ancient practice of dark retreat: what happens to the mind when all light is removed, why it's been called "meditation times a thousand," and how to bring its power into everyday life.This conversation offers genuine transmission—not just concepts about awakening, but the palpable presence of realized teachers exploring the growing edge of spiritual understanding together. Originally aired on Sounds True One.This episode is sponsored by Omega Institute, a global gathering hub for lifelong learning and spiritual exploration. Located in upstate New York's beautiful Hudson Valley, Omega offers weekend workshops, special events, rest and rejuvenation retreats, professional trainings, online learning, and more. Discover what calls to you at eomega.org/true.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
If you enjoy this episode, we're sure you will enjoy more content like this on The Occult Rejects. In fact, we have curated playlists on occult topics like grimoires, esoteric concepts and phenomena, occult history, analyzing true crime and cults with an occult lens, Para politics, and occultism in music. Whether you enjoy consuming your content visually or via audio, we've got you covered - and it will always be provided free of charge. So, if you enjoy what we do and want to support our work of providing accessible, free content on various platforms, please consider making a donation to the links provided below. Thank you and enjoy the episode!Links For The Occult Rejectshttps://linktr.ee/theoccultrejectsOccult Research Institutehttps://www.occultresearchinstitute.org/Cash Apphttps://cash.app/$theoccultrejectsVenmo@TheOccultRejectsBuy Me A Coffeebuymeacoffee.com/TheOccultRejectsPatreonhttps://www.patreon.com/TheOccultRejectsBibliographyThe Mechanics of Magick: Singing Bowls and the Ritual Physics of ResonanceCore Singing Bowl ResearchStanhope, Jessica, and Philip Weinstein. “The Human Health Effects of Singing Bowls: A Systematic Review.” Complementary Therapies in Medicine 51 (2020): 102412. Use for the honesty frame: promising findings around mental health and cardiovascular measures, but limited evidence and need for stronger study design.Cai, Yiqing, Guo-Yan Yang, Yibo Liu, Xiang-yun Zou, Heng Yin, Xinyan Jin, Xue-han Liu, Chenlu Wang, Nicola Robinson, and Jian-Ping Liu. “Therapeutic Effects of Singing Bowls: A Systematic Review of Clinical Studies.” Integrative Medicine Research 14, no. 2 (2025): 101144. Use for the newer clinical overview. Important correction: this appears as 101144, not 101176. Good for anxiety, depression, sleep quality, cognition, autistic behavior, and EEG-related outcomes while still keeping the evidence cautious.Lin, F. W., et al. “Effects of Tibetan Singing Bowl Intervention on Psychological and Physiological Health in Adults: A Systematic Review.” 2025. Useful as another recent review angle, especially for psychological health, physiological measures, HRV, and brainwave-related discussion. Keep it secondary behind Stanhope and Cai.Landry, Jayan Marie. “Physiological and Psychological Effects of a Himalayan Singing Bowl in Meditation Practice: A Quantitative Analysis.” American Journal of Health Promotion 28, no. 5 (2014): 306–309. Use for the controlled relaxation study: 51 participants, randomized crossover design, singing bowl exposure or silence before directed relaxation.Goldsby, Tamara L., Michael E. Goldsby, Mary McWalters, and Paul J. Mills. “Effects of Singing Bowl Sound Meditation on Mood, Tension, and Well-Being: An Observational Study.” Journal of Evidence-Based Complementary & Alternative Medicine 22, no. 3 (2017): 401–406. Use for reductions in tension, anger, fatigue, depressed mood, anxiety, and stress after singing bowl meditation. Good, but frame as observational, not definitive.Rio-Alamos, Cristina, et al. “Acute Relaxation Response Induced by Tibetan Singing Bowl Sounds: A Randomized Controlled Trial.” European Journal of Investigation in Health, Psychology and Education 13, no. 2 (2023): 317–328. Use for Tibetan singing bowl treatment compared with progressive muscle relaxation and a waiting-list control in anxious nonclinical adults.Walter, Nina, et al. “Neurophysiological Effects of a Singing Bowl Massage.” Medicina 58, no. 5 (2022): 594. Use for EEG, ECG, and respiration during singing bowl massage; the authors interpret the results as a shift toward a more mindful or meditative state.Goldsby, Tamara L., et al. “Mood, Emotional, and Spiritual Well-Being Interrelationships.” Religions 13, no. 2 (2022). Useful follow-up for spiritual well-being, emotional interpretation, and how people understand sound-healing experiences.Sound, Anxiety, HRV, and Brainwave CautionMallik, Adiel, and Frank A. Russo. “The Effects of Music & Auditory Beat Stimulation on Anxiety: A Randomized Clinical Trial.” PLOS ONE 17, no. 3 (2022): e0259312. Use this carefully for the broader point that sound-based treatments can reduce somatic and cognitive state anxiety. Do not use it as proof that singing bowls automatically entrain brainwaves.Ingendoh, Ruth Maria, Ella S. Posny, and Angela Heine. “Binaural Beats to Entrain the Brain? A Systematic Review of the Effects of Binaural Beat Stimulation on Brain Oscillatory Activity, and the Implications for Psychological Research and Intervention.” PLOS ONE 18, no. 5 (2023): e0286023. Very useful caution source. Use it when warning against overclaiming “brainwave entrainment” and frequency-healing claims.Vilímek, et al. 2022. Low-frequency sound / HRV / vibroacoustic-related research. Use cautiously if you want to discuss low-frequency vibration, body sensation, and autonomic response. I'd keep this as a secondary source unless you want a dedicated paragraph on vibroacoustics.Physics, Resonance, and CymaticsTerwagne, Denis, and John W. M. Bush. “Tibetan Singing Bowls.” Nonlinearity 24, no. 8 (2011): R51–R66. Use for the physics section: wall vibrations, water-surface waves, Faraday-wave effects, droplet motion, and the visible demonstration of resonance.Jenny, Hans. Cymatics: A Study of Wave Phenomena and Vibration. Newmarket, NH: MACROmedia, 2001. Use carefully for visual sound-pattern history. Good for imagery and occult imagination, but don't overuse it as clinical proof.Rossing, Thomas D. The Science of Sound. 3rd ed. San Francisco: Addison Wesley, 2002. Useful general acoustics source for resonance, overtones, vibration, sound waves, and instrument physics.Sound Baths, Wellness Culture, and Modern RitualSobo, Elisa J. “Sound Baths, Trauma Talk, and the Wellness Paradox in the USA.” Medical Anthropology 43, no. 5 (2024): 367–382. Excellent for the modern sound-bath/wellness-culture angle, especially trauma language, nervous-system talk, ritual performance, and how providers frame sound baths.Sobo, Elisa J. “A Beginner's Guide to Sound Baths — What They Are, How to Choose a Good One and What the Research Shows.” The Conversation (2024). Useful for accessible show-note language and ethical/practical framing.Sobo, Elisa J. “Healing Vibrations.” Anthropology News 64, no. 5 (2023): 28–32, 49. Good anthropology/public-facing source for sound healing and wellness culture.Tibetan Singing Bowls, History, and Cultural CommodificationGrimes, Samuel. “Where Did ‘Tibetan' Singing Bowls Really Come From?” Tricycle (2020). Use for the contested-history section. Strong source for questioning popular origin stories around “Tibetan” singing bowls.Joffe, Ben. “Anthropology and Tibetan Buddhism / Cultural Commodification / Tibetan Mystique.” 2015. Use for the larger argument about how Tibetan/Himalayan aura gets packaged in Western spiritual markets. Good support for the “Tibet as imagined storehouse of hidden wisdom” point.Scheidegger, Daniel A. “Tibetan Ritual Music.” Use for actual Tibetan Buddhist ritual sound: bells, cymbals, long horns, drums, chant, and liturgical soundscape. This helps separate real Tibetan ritual sound from overblown modern singing-bowl mythology.Lopez, Donald S. Prisoners of Shangri-La: Tibetan Buddhism and the West. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1998. Excellent support for Western romanticization of Tibet.Bishop, Peter. The Myth of Shangri-La: Tibet, Travel Writing, and the Western Creation of Sacred Landscape. Berkeley: University of California Press, 1989. Very useful for the “Tibet as fantasy geography” angle.Ritual, Sound, and Religious ExperienceEliade, Mircea. Shamanism: Archaic Techniques of Ecstasy. Princeton: Princeton University Press, 1964. Use carefully. Good for altered-state technologies and ritual sound/trance, but don't treat it as the final word on shamanism.Rouget, Gilbert. Music and Trance: A Theory of the Relations Between Music and Possession. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1985. Excellent for sound, music, trance, possession, rhythm, and ritual performance.Becker, Judith. Deep Listeners: Music, Emotion, and Trancing. Bloomington: Indiana University Press, 2004. Strong source for deep listening, music, emotion, trance, and the body.Husserl, Edmund. On the Phenomenology of the Consciousness of Internal Time. Useful if you want to get philosophical about tone, decay, waiting, and how sound reveals time.Ihde, Don. Listening and Voice: Phenomenologies of Sound. Albany: SUNY Press, 2007. Good for sound as experience, listening, voice, and embodied perception.Placebo, Meaning Response, and Healing RitualMoerman, Daniel E. Meaning, Medicine and the “Placebo Effect.” Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2002. Use for “meaning response” instead of treating placebo as “fake.”Benedetti, Fabrizio. Placebo Effects: Understanding the Mechanisms in Health and Disease. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2009. Useful for placebo mechanisms, expectation, physiology, and therapeutic context.Kaptchuk, Ted J., and Franklin G. Miller. “Placebo Effects in Medicine.” New England Journal of Medicine 373 (2015): 8–9. Good short medical source for placebo effects as real psychobiological phenomena.Csordas, Thomas J. The Sacred Self: A Cultural Phenomenology of Charismatic Healing. Berkeley: University of California Press, 1994. Useful for healing, embodiment, ritual, and religious experience.Embodied Cognition, Extended Mind, and Ritual ToolsClAlso want to remind people about the website, if you're into reading we have tons of information by multiple contributors, and we got t-shirts up on the site if you're interested. Fun fact, the art is all based on the eyeball. A
Dr. Andrew Holecek discusses Dark Retreat—a Tibetan Buddhist practice of spending extended periods in complete darkness—and its transformative effects on creativity, healing, and spiritual insight. Dark Retreat is “big medicine” not to be undertaken lightly. Like any retreat, its power relies on its integration. His new book on the subject is: Total Eclipse of the Mind: Unleashing the Power of Darkness for Creativity, Healing, and TransformationDr. Holecek is an interdisciplinary scholar-practitioner in Tibetan Buddhism and other nondual wisdom traditions. He is the Resident Contemplative Scholar at the Institute for Advanced Consciousness Studies, and a research consultant for the Cognitive Neuroscience Program at Northwestern University. His work involves studies on dream yoga and the practice of dark retreat. Dr. Holecek is a member of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine, the author of nine books, and a concert pianist. He has completed the Tibetan Buddhist three-year retreat and is a frequent subject in scientific studies on meditation and lucid dreaming. His work integrates ancient wisdom traditions with contemporary perspectives, aiming to help individuals navigate spiritual challenges and end-of-life experiences. He is currently writing a book on “gray” retreat—a more gradual approach to dark retreat. He holds degrees in classical music, biology, and a doctorate in dental surgery. You can find him at: https://www.andrewholecek.com/Retreat Centers:Sky Cave / Oregon: https://www.skycaveretreats.com/ Dark Havens / Vermont: http://www.darkhavens.org/Chamma Ling / Colorado: https://chammaling.com/Menla / New York (coming soon): https://menla.org/Other Books by Holecek:Dreams of LightDream YogaLucid Dreaming WorkbookPreparing to DieI'm Mindful, Now What?Reverse MeditationThe Power and the PainMeditation in the iGenerationSupport the showHost: Tess CallahanSubstack: Writers at the WellInterview Podcast: Writers at the WellMeditations on Insight TimerMeditations on YouTubeTess's novels: https://tesscallahan.com/Music (unless otherwise noted above): Christopher Lloyd ClarkAudio Editing: Eric FischerBy tapping "like" and "follow" you help others find the show. Thank you for listening!DISCLAIMER: Meditation is not a substitute for professional psychological or medical healthcare or therapy. We do not accept any liability for any loss or damage incurred by you acting or not acting as a result of listening to this recording. Use the material provided at your own risk. Do not drive or operate dangerous equipment while listening. The views expressed in this podcast may not be those of the host or the management.
Jaymee welcomes Tibetan Buddhist meditation master Orgyen Chowang Rinpoche of Pristine Mind Foundation for an in depth discussion on the merits of being a good natured rebel on the path, how one's inner motivation speaks louder than words or actions, and the principles behind his new book The Tibetan Book of Success out now on Shambhala Publications. LITA PODCAST: hosted, produced, and recorded by Jaymee Carpenter. SOUND MIXED: Chris FallerOPENING SONG: Gangstalean by JJ RAM (Jaymee Carpenter)CLOSING SONG: Ocean Of Beauty by Earthtones Music & Sheela BringiInterested in Trauma Counseling/Mentorship with Jaymee?email: lacee@loveistheauthor.com to set up a free consultation,or visit: www.loveistheauthor.com/mentorship SPONSORS: YERBA MADRE www.yerbamadre.comRAUM GOODS www.raumgoods.comBOSSANOVA SOAP www.bossanovasoap.comTOTALLY BLOWN www.totallyblown.usINDIAN LODGE ROAD www.indianlodgeroad.comTHiS SHOW is a LABOR of LOVE. PLEASE SUPPORT IT: www.patreon.com/loveistheauthorpodcastFAN CONTACT: lacee@loveistheauthor.comON INSTAGRAM: @loveistheauthor / @unconventionalgardener
This is a reading for meditation of three poems written by Yeshe Tsogyal on the nature of the Dharmakaya and her complete realisation. Translations are by Keith Dowman (poem 1) and Tarthang Tulku.Yeshe Tsogyal was an 8th-century Tibetan Buddhist master and the foremost disciple of Padmasambhava. Revered as a fully enlightened Buddha in the Tibetan tradition, she played a central role in preserving and transmitting the teachings of Vajrayana Buddhism in Tibet. Known for her profound wisdom, intense spiritual practice, and realization, she remains one of the most beloved and inspiring female figures in Tibetan Buddhism.Yeshe Tsogyal is celebrated for her extraordinary perseverance and realization. Traditional biographies describe years of intensive retreat, austerities, meditation in remote caves, and encounters with both external hardships and inner psychological challenges. Through these practices, she attained complete enlightenment.She played a crucial role in preserving and transmitting Buddhist teachings in Tibet. Tibetan sources credit her with recording many of Padmasambhava's teachings and concealing them as “terma” (hidden spiritual treasures) to be rediscovered in later centuries by realized masters known as tertöns. Because of this, she is often seen as one of the foundational figures in Tibetan Vajrayana Buddhism.
This episode of the Wisdom Podcast features special guest Lama Justin von Bujdoss. Lama Justin is an American Buddhist teacher, author, and the founder and Spiritual Director of Yangti Yoga Retreat Center. In this episode, host Daniel Aitken and Lama Justin explore the Tibetan Buddhist practice of dark retreat. Lama Justin shares his introduction to Buddhism and dark retreat practice from teachers Ani Dechen Zangmo, Kyabje Pathing Rinpoche, His Eminence Gyaltsab Rinpoche, and the Ngakpa doctor, Dr. Nida Chenagtsang. Lama Justin and Daniel also discuss: The various styles of dark retreat; Lama Justin's experiences with chaplaincy and violence; rainbow body mindset; and much more! Additional content mentioned in this episode: Check out the Yangti Yoga Retreat Center here The views and opinions expressed on this program are those of the speakers and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of Wisdom Publications or any entities they represent. The post Lama Justin von Bujdoss: Dark Retreat (#230) appeared first on The Wisdom Experience.
Conceiving the Mother of Tibet: The Early Literary Lives of the Buddhist Saint Yeshe Tsogyel (Oxford UP, 2026) is the first comprehensive study dedicated to the literary tradition surrounding Yeshe Tsogyel, revered as the foremost matron saint of Tibetan Buddhism. It traces the emergence and development of a rich body of narratives about Yeshe Tsogyel during the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries, focusing on the Tibetan Nyingma Buddhist tradition. Through careful textual analysis, the book constructs an emic (insider) Tibetan Buddhist theory of gender and female religious eminence, examining how Yeshe Tsogyel's multifaceted identities--as a devoted disciple, tantric consort, sky-goer (dakini), and spiritual mother--embody a dialectic that shifts back and forth between Tibetan women's social and cultural marginalization and a Buddhist discourse of soteriological inclusivity. Jue Liang queries these texts for their social and religious functions, especially where ambivalence and contradictions abound. However, these ambivalences do not necessarily disadvantage women in Tibetan Buddhism. Operating with ambivalent, sometimes competing, discourses on womanhood, Nyingma Buddhist theorists in the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries created a space for a flexible treatment of gender, where they traverse between theological terms and embodied reality. Ultimately, Conceiving the Mother of Tibet not only illuminates the unique position of Yeshe Tsogyel within Tibetan Buddhist literature but also offers a methodological framework for understanding localized theories of gender. This approach highlights alternative ways of being and acting in the world as embodied agents, providing valuable insights for the broader field of Buddhist studies. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/literary-studies
Over the years, we've done quite a few lectures on Mā Chinnamastakā, one of the most mysterious and often among the most feared from of Mā with a very complex rasa-profile, at least as far as Her iconography is concerned. In 2024, in Goddess Worship in Tantrik Buddhism | The Buddhist Chinnamastā we looked at a Tibetan Buddhist tantra for Vajrayoginī & compared it to a "Hindu" tantra for Chinnamastakā to demonstrate that the Goddess tradition is the same across sectarian lines! Then, in 2025 we did How To Decapitate Yourself | Chinnamastā Jayanti a thrilling inquiry in the motif of decapitation that is pretty ubiquitous with Mā in many of Her representations. This lecture was like a hand grenade to destroy all vikalpas, differentiating thought constructs (the head) that obscure the mad joy of non-dual experience (headlessness) to allow the blood (bliss and power) to flow and imbue all aspects of life, now understood correctly in the light on non-duality. Going off the previous year's lecture, we engage a lot of Buddhist void and mind-only philosophers like Nagarjuna and Vasubandha alongside Gaudapada and more extreme non-dual masters like that. Now, I want to consider the two streams of blood to the left and right and by comparing them to the Idā, moon-channel and Pingalā, sun-channel and by comparing that in turn to the image of Kāmadeva and Rati making love on the horizontal plane, the seat of the rising Kundalinīin the Sushumnā nādi, I think we can say a few exciting things about why its important to still hold your head (maintain rational, grounded, controlled thinking, i.e jñāna) after decapitation, the mad ecstasy of devotion, i.,e bhakti! Here are all our videos on the Mahāvidyās over the years. Support the showLectures happen live every Monday at 7pm PST and again at Friday 11am PST Use this link and I will see you there:https://www.zoom.us/j/7028380815For more videos, guided meditations and instruction and for access to our lecture library, visit me at:https://www.patreon.com/yogawithnishTo get in on the discussion and access various spiritual materials, join our Discord here: https://discord.gg/U8zKP8yMrM
Conceiving the Mother of Tibet: The Early Literary Lives of the Buddhist Saint Yeshe Tsogyel (Oxford UP, 2026) is the first comprehensive study dedicated to the literary tradition surrounding Yeshe Tsogyel, revered as the foremost matron saint of Tibetan Buddhism. It traces the emergence and development of a rich body of narratives about Yeshe Tsogyel during the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries, focusing on the Tibetan Nyingma Buddhist tradition. Through careful textual analysis, the book constructs an emic (insider) Tibetan Buddhist theory of gender and female religious eminence, examining how Yeshe Tsogyel's multifaceted identities--as a devoted disciple, tantric consort, sky-goer (dakini), and spiritual mother--embody a dialectic that shifts back and forth between Tibetan women's social and cultural marginalization and a Buddhist discourse of soteriological inclusivity. Jue Liang queries these texts for their social and religious functions, especially where ambivalence and contradictions abound. However, these ambivalences do not necessarily disadvantage women in Tibetan Buddhism. Operating with ambivalent, sometimes competing, discourses on womanhood, Nyingma Buddhist theorists in the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries created a space for a flexible treatment of gender, where they traverse between theological terms and embodied reality. Ultimately, Conceiving the Mother of Tibet not only illuminates the unique position of Yeshe Tsogyel within Tibetan Buddhist literature but also offers a methodological framework for understanding localized theories of gender. This approach highlights alternative ways of being and acting in the world as embodied agents, providing valuable insights for the broader field of Buddhist studies. 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
Conceiving the Mother of Tibet: The Early Literary Lives of the Buddhist Saint Yeshe Tsogyel (Oxford UP, 2026) is the first comprehensive study dedicated to the literary tradition surrounding Yeshe Tsogyel, revered as the foremost matron saint of Tibetan Buddhism. It traces the emergence and development of a rich body of narratives about Yeshe Tsogyel during the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries, focusing on the Tibetan Nyingma Buddhist tradition. Through careful textual analysis, the book constructs an emic (insider) Tibetan Buddhist theory of gender and female religious eminence, examining how Yeshe Tsogyel's multifaceted identities--as a devoted disciple, tantric consort, sky-goer (dakini), and spiritual mother--embody a dialectic that shifts back and forth between Tibetan women's social and cultural marginalization and a Buddhist discourse of soteriological inclusivity. Jue Liang queries these texts for their social and religious functions, especially where ambivalence and contradictions abound. However, these ambivalences do not necessarily disadvantage women in Tibetan Buddhism. Operating with ambivalent, sometimes competing, discourses on womanhood, Nyingma Buddhist theorists in the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries created a space for a flexible treatment of gender, where they traverse between theological terms and embodied reality. Ultimately, Conceiving the Mother of Tibet not only illuminates the unique position of Yeshe Tsogyel within Tibetan Buddhist literature but also offers a methodological framework for understanding localized theories of gender. This approach highlights alternative ways of being and acting in the world as embodied agents, providing valuable insights for the broader field of Buddhist studies. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/gender-studies
Conceiving the Mother of Tibet: The Early Literary Lives of the Buddhist Saint Yeshe Tsogyel (Oxford UP, 2026) is the first comprehensive study dedicated to the literary tradition surrounding Yeshe Tsogyel, revered as the foremost matron saint of Tibetan Buddhism. It traces the emergence and development of a rich body of narratives about Yeshe Tsogyel during the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries, focusing on the Tibetan Nyingma Buddhist tradition. Through careful textual analysis, the book constructs an emic (insider) Tibetan Buddhist theory of gender and female religious eminence, examining how Yeshe Tsogyel's multifaceted identities--as a devoted disciple, tantric consort, sky-goer (dakini), and spiritual mother--embody a dialectic that shifts back and forth between Tibetan women's social and cultural marginalization and a Buddhist discourse of soteriological inclusivity. Jue Liang queries these texts for their social and religious functions, especially where ambivalence and contradictions abound. However, these ambivalences do not necessarily disadvantage women in Tibetan Buddhism. Operating with ambivalent, sometimes competing, discourses on womanhood, Nyingma Buddhist theorists in the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries created a space for a flexible treatment of gender, where they traverse between theological terms and embodied reality. Ultimately, Conceiving the Mother of Tibet not only illuminates the unique position of Yeshe Tsogyel within Tibetan Buddhist literature but also offers a methodological framework for understanding localized theories of gender. This approach highlights alternative ways of being and acting in the world as embodied agents, providing valuable insights for the broader field of Buddhist studies. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/buddhist-studies
Conceiving the Mother of Tibet: The Early Literary Lives of the Buddhist Saint Yeshe Tsogyel (Oxford UP, 2026) is the first comprehensive study dedicated to the literary tradition surrounding Yeshe Tsogyel, revered as the foremost matron saint of Tibetan Buddhism. It traces the emergence and development of a rich body of narratives about Yeshe Tsogyel during the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries, focusing on the Tibetan Nyingma Buddhist tradition. Through careful textual analysis, the book constructs an emic (insider) Tibetan Buddhist theory of gender and female religious eminence, examining how Yeshe Tsogyel's multifaceted identities--as a devoted disciple, tantric consort, sky-goer (dakini), and spiritual mother--embody a dialectic that shifts back and forth between Tibetan women's social and cultural marginalization and a Buddhist discourse of soteriological inclusivity. Jue Liang queries these texts for their social and religious functions, especially where ambivalence and contradictions abound. However, these ambivalences do not necessarily disadvantage women in Tibetan Buddhism. Operating with ambivalent, sometimes competing, discourses on womanhood, Nyingma Buddhist theorists in the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries created a space for a flexible treatment of gender, where they traverse between theological terms and embodied reality. Ultimately, Conceiving the Mother of Tibet not only illuminates the unique position of Yeshe Tsogyel within Tibetan Buddhist literature but also offers a methodological framework for understanding localized theories of gender. This approach highlights alternative ways of being and acting in the world as embodied agents, providing valuable insights for the broader field of Buddhist studies. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/religion
It's time to fundamentally rethink America's approach to the Chinese Communist Party, argues Sam Brownback, former U.S. senator, Kansas governor, U.S. ambassador-at-large for international religious freedom, and author of the new book “China's War on Faith.”Ahead of President Donald Trump's high-stakes summit with Chinese leader Xi Jinping in Beijing, I'm sitting down with Brownback to understand what's really at stake and why he believes America is wasting the greatest leverage it has had.“I think we've just got to recognize: ... This is an evil regime. They've killed more of their own people than any other regime in the history of mankind, and we've been treating them like a normal country,” Brownback says.Brownback lays out the case that the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) is currently conducting three genocides—against the Uyghur Muslims, Falun Gong practitioners, and Tibetan Buddhists—through mass detention, torture, cultural eradication, and forced organ harvesting. At the same time, the regime is escalating its war on Christianity, arresting pastors, and crushing underground churches, Brownback says.Now, the CCP is also exporting the technologies it uses to surveil and persecute dissidents to at least 80 other countries, he says.For decades, human rights and religious freedom has been a “red line” for the Chinese regime that American leaders and diplomats have tiptoed around.But the reality is that human rights and religious freedom are the CCP's deepest vulnerability and insecurity—and America's most potent weapon and leverage against this regime, Brownback argues.Views expressed in this video are opinions of the host and the guest, and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times.
Drawing from decades of Buddhist practice and lived experience, Lodro Rinzler helps listeners overcome self-doubt and reconnect with their inherent goodness.Grab a copy of Lodro Rinzler's recently released book, You Are Good, You Are Enough.This week on Mindrolling, Raghu and Lodro explore: Keeping an open mind towards all wisdom traditions Lessons from Tibetan master Khandro RinpocheHaving gratitude for obstacles and challenges Recognizing where seeds of doubt have been planted in our livesThe insidious inner voice that tries to convince us we are not complete as isGetting in touch with our awakened natureHow doubt can actually manifest as arrogance (I know better than to trust these people, these things)Capitalism and how industries make money off the idea that we are not okayLearning to love ourselves unconditionallyGrappling with the fact that every human being has inherent, basic goodnessThe gift of offering another our undivided attentionAbout Lodro Rinzler:Lodro Rinzler is a Buddhist meditation teacher and award-winning author of 7 books, including the bestseller The Buddha Walks Into A Bar, and Take Back Your Mind: Buddhist Advice for Anxious Times. He is co-founder of MNDFL Meditation studios in NYC, and was named one of '50 Innovators Shaping the Future of Wellness' by SONIMA. Rinzler's work has been featured in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, The Atlantic, Good Morning America, CBS, and NBC. He has taught meditation for 20 years in the Tibetan Buddhist tradition and has spoken across the world at conferences, universities, Google, Harvard, and the White House. Lodro resides in the Hudson Valley with his wife and their four-legged family of animals. More at LodroRinzler.com “The world is on fire, it's troubling times. I think if we start to recognize basic goodness in one another, then it will really transform the world.” –Lodro RinzlerSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
What is “self-love”?In contemporary psychology and self-help, self-love is often framed as self-acceptance, self-worth, and meeting our emotional needs with care. These approaches can be deeply supportive—but they may also rest on a limited view of the “self” they are trying to love.In this episode of Prajna Sparks, we explore a broader, more nuanced perspective drawn from the Mahayana Buddhist tradition.Rather than asking only how to love ourselves, we begin by asking:What is this “self” we are loving?Join Lama Yeshe for an integrated Dharma talk and guided meditation exploring the panoramic view of the "I"FULL MOON SIT is an ongoing series offering Tibetan Buddhist meditation instruction and practice Make a dana offeringPRAJNA FIRE is a United States 501(c)(3) nonprofit religious organization. Your donation is tax-deductible to the extent allowed by applicable law.Learn more about meditative inquiry and the integrative dharma practice of listening, contemplating, and meditating from Prajna Rising, our online journal.PUBLISHED ARTICLEShttps://www.prajnafire.com/mediaSubscribe to Prajna Fire's newsletter on Substackhttps://prajnafire.substack.comFOLLOW USJoin the Prajna Fire Global Community Private Teaching Sessions Book Online at Prajna Fire with immediate confirmation (https://www.prajnafire.com/book-online)EMAIL US sparks@prajnafire.comFIND US on the Prajna Fire website (https://www.prajnafire.com/sparks)@prajnasparks on Facebook, Instagram, and TwitterYouTube (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCRUzGmU7c4_TJdLhG9R8IDA/videos)
Scorpio Full Moon — the perfect lunation to illuminate after the Aries New Moon. Both ruled by Mars' power. Aries moves us toward our desires. Scorpio moves us toward revealing our deep fears. The Aries New Moon invited us to see that desire is leadership, that we have to claim our desires, and that if our desires don't scare us a bit, they aren't big enough. Then Uranus moved into Gemini, a generational shift forcing us to get comfortable with uncertainty. And now, the Scorpio Full Moon is shining the light on the truths that keep us from reaching for our desires and clinging to the past instead of embracing inevitable change. In this episode, we go Scorpio Moon deep to tap into Scorpio's power and reveal what's truly holding you back from your leadership. To do the big change-making things that make you a leader requires the deep inner work to reveal the shadows that are still calling the shots. Then I'll teach you Pema Chödrön's Tonglen — a Tibetan Buddhist breathing practice that uses what seems like poison as medicine. In four counts of a breath, you'll walk the parallel path your leadership actually requires: inner awakening and outer impact, happening at once. Be prepared to go deep. To breathe differently than you've been taught. And to reveal what's truly blocking you from your luminary leadership.
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.
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.