Podcasts about Buddhism

NL TeamThis week, host Sumedha Mittal is joined by The Caravan's Sunil Kashyap, and Jatinder Kaur Tur. Jatinder reports from Kashmir, where three bodies of locals who were in police detention surfaced in the Veshaw River. Following the Pahalgam terror attack, Kashmiris felt being suspected and criminalised. Amid rampant arrests and deaths, families like that of Nazir Ahmad Magray – whose 20-year-old son was taken in a night raid by the Jammu and Kashmir Police's Special Operations Group – have been left shattered.“We are talking about three brothers [and one man] who went missing and there was no believable story from the police. It is said that they drowned in Veshaw river or naala, which was completely dry and no one could have drowned there,” says Jatinder. Meanwhile, Sunil's report uncovers an unseen, unheard truth from Bihar. At Bodh Gaya's Mahabodhi Mahavihara – a sacred Buddhist site – Buddhist monks and Dalit-Bahujan groups are protesting the Bodh Gaya Temple Act of 1949, which mandates Hindu involvement in managing the temple. This stems from centuries of Hindu appropriation of the site, despite its centrality to Buddhism. “The Hindu Sangh sees Buddhism, not Islam, as its biggest ideological challenge,” says Sunil. Timecodes00:00:00 - Introduction00:01:02 - Kashmir police silences questions as bodies emerge from the Veshaw River00:20:59 - The Bodh Gaya Protest00:45: 37 - RecommendationsRecommendationsJatinder How to Forgive Sunil In 6 months, Fadnavis seat added 29,219 voters. Poll staff claim lapsesA flurry of new voters? The curious case of Kamthi, where the Maha BJP chief wonSumedha A border ran through it: The life and lonely death of an 80-year-old Kashmiri manProduced and edited by Saif Ekram and Tista Roy Chowdhury, recorded by Anil Kumar. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Life is made up of hard choices. It's those big moments that define our lives. It's not the outcome that matters. It's those precious moments where we get to decide which direction our life takes. We put so much pressure on ourselves to make the right decision, but we forget that it's the journey and freedom of having options that makes life so meaningful.The heart is always open to new possibilities, the gut guides us, but the mind stops us. We think the mind is being rational, but that rationality is fear in disguise. It stops us from moving forward and creating the beautiful life that is meant for us.In this podcast, I share the 3 reasons we have a hard time making decisions, 3 ways to overcome them, how to make wise choices, and how to keep going and growing no matter what happens.Please enjoy other episodes where I share meditation techniques, tips and spiritual lessons from around the world for peaceful and stress-free living. Remember to subscribe to stay up-to-date.*****If you ever feel like my words brought a change in your life, and want to show your SUPPORT for what I am doing, click here. Find all of my BOOKS for wherever you are on your spiritual journey: https://www.eastwesticism.org/spiritual-meditation-books/Want to gift a book to a prisoner? Go here.

This week, we dive into Spiritual Practice vs Consciousness Exploration - and the dangers of not knowing the difference. I'll talk about how we can use conscious exploration to nurture our spiritual growth (instead of letting it distract us) and how we can approach altered states with caution. Plus we'll take a look at what Buddhism has to say about this and other psychic skills like telepathy, astral travel, and dream yogaYou will learn:// The difference between conscious exploration and spiritual growth// How conscious exploration can distract us from our spiritual growth// Why (and how) we should approach altered states with caution// What Buddhism says about the dangers and potential of mystical experiences like telepathy, astral travel, and dream yogaResources:// Episode 97: Psychedelic and Spiritual Practice// Episode 153: Psychedelic Exceptionalism// Episode 227: Plant Medicine and the Spiritual Path – A Conversation with Spring Washam// If you're new to the squad, grab the Rebel Buddhist Toolkit I created at RebelBuddhist.com. It has all you need to start creating a life of more freedom, adventure, and purpose. You'll also get access to the Rebel Buddhist private group, and tune in every Wednesday as I go live with new inspiration and topics.// Want something more self-paced with access to weekly group support and getting coached by yours truly? Check out Freedom School – the community for ALL things related to freedom, inside and out. We dive into taking wisdom and applying it to our daily lives, with different topics every month. Learn more at JoinFreedomSchool.com. I can't wait to see you there!// Have you benefited from even one episode of the Rebel Buddhist Podcast? I'd love it if you could leave a 5-star review on iTunes by clicking here  or on Spotify by clicking here.

Jim talks with David Chapman about rethinking nobility for the modern age through his recent "nobility tetralogy" of essays. They discuss character & virtue as "risible" concepts, noblesse oblige & elite education, nobility as intention vs status, "The Battle of Maldon" poem & its lessons, postmodernism & postmodernity, the failure of elite universities, effective altruism & Sam Bankman-Fried, Elon Musk & hubris, meritocracy & institutional change, Nietzsche's master-slave morality, Tolkien's models of nobility, Vajrayana Buddhism's life-affirming approach, software engineers eating the world, meta-rationality & the tech industry, new institutions, visions for a more playful & connected future, and much more. Episode Transcript "Nobility: table of contents," by David Chapman "Ofermöd," by David Chapman "You should be a God-Emperor," by David Chapman Meaningness, by David Chapman "Software engineers are eating the world," by David Chapman "Why Software Is Eating the World," by Marc Andreessen David Chapman writes and speaks about understanding meaning, purpose, and culture through resolving fundamental, unthought emotional stances that can make us miserable; leveling up technical work by going beyond formal rationality; Vajrayana, the life-affirming branch of Buddhism offering a vaster, brighter, freer way of seeing, feeling, and acting; and artificial intelligence (he has a PhD in it).

 This Teisho was given by the Reverend Karen Do'on Weik Roshi at the Buddhist Temple of Toledo on April 10, 2024. In this talk Do'on Roshi finishes her discussion on the 43rd case from the Mumonkan (aka The Gateless Gate) known as Shushan's Short Bamboo Staff.   If you would like to learn more about the Buddhist Temple of Toledo or to make a donation in support of this podcast please visit buddhisttempleoftoledo.org.

Jack invites us to walk the path of joy—no matter the circumstances—showing how living joyfully and tenderly is a courageous, radical, and transformative act. Join the Year of Awakening with Jack Kornfield for monthly livestream Q&A hangs with Jack, and weekly lessons and reflections to keep your year focused on awakening. Use code AWAKEN50 for 50% off entry.“What I've seen in visiting refugee camps is that they don't want you to come in feeling depressed—they have enough of that themselves. They're not looking for people who are frightened, worried, or downhearted. What they long for is someone who can bring a sense of uplift, possibility, and joy.” – Jack KornfieldIn this episode, Jack mindfully explores:Living joyfully with a positive attitudeJoy as a necessary quality of enlightenmentHow can we have joy in times of chaos, disruption, and suffering?Joy as a true service to others and the worldUplifting others through our joy and positivityWavy Gravy and the Transformative Power of JoyHow suffering is not the end of the story; it's the beginning of the Four Noble TruthsBringing joy, beauty, and humor to our protesting, activism, and standing up for what mattersBeing hopeful despite the outside circumstances, and emphasizing compassion, sacrifice, courage, and kindnessThe joy and playfulness of His Holiness the Dalai Lama and Archbishop Desmond TutuHow we can bless and heal each other with our joyLiving in joy, love, health and peace even amidst hate, affliction, and troublesExperiencing the sweet joy of living in the wayThe radical joyful presence of Ajahn Chah and Maha GhosanandaRisking delightJack's rapturous experience of meditative blissLearning to step out of the battle and embrace lifeThich Nhat Hanh and the practice of smilingBecoming a make-weight of joy, tipping the scales to hopeUnshakeable integrity, generosity, gratitude, and tendernessTuning in with nature, relationships, and the mysteryFather Gregory Boyle and the possibility of transformation and renewalThis episode was recorded on 04/07/2025 for the Spirit Rock Meditation Center Monday Night Dharma Talk and Guided Meditation. “Be joyful though you have considered all the facts.” – Wendell Berry“Live in joy and love even among those who hate. Live in joy and health even among the afflicted. Live in joy and peace even among the troubled. Look within, be still, free from fears and attachments. Know the sweet joy of living in the way.” – The DhammapadaAbout Jack Kornfield:Jack Kornfield trained as a Buddhist monk in the monasteries of Thailand, India, and Burma, studying as a monk under the Buddhist master Ven. Ajahn Chah, as well as the Ven. Mahasi Sayadaw. He has taught meditation internationally since 1974 and is one of the key teachers to introduce Buddhist mindfulness practice to the West. Jack co-founded the Insight Meditation Society in Barre, Massachusetts, with fellow meditation teachers Sharon Salzberg and Joseph Goldstein and the Spirit Rock Center in Woodacre, California. His books have been translated into 20 languages and sold more than a million copies.Jack is currently offering a wonderful array of transformational online courses diving into crucial topics like Mindfulness Meditation Fundamentals, Walking the Eightfold Path, Opening the Heart of Forgiveness, Living Beautifully, Transforming Your Life Through Powerful Stories, and so much more. Sign up for an All Access Pass to explore Jack's entire course library. If you would like a year's worth of online meetups with Jack and fellow community, join The Year of Awakening: A Monthly Journey with Jack Kornfield.Stay up to date with Jack and his stream of fresh dharma offerings by visiting JackKornfield.com and signing up for his email teachings.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In this episode of "Decoding Academia: Required Readings", Chris and Matt take a joint stroll through the history of Buddhism through Donald S. Lopez Jr.'s latest book, 'Buddhism: A Journey Through History.' We discuss the unexpected historical and cultural facets of Buddhism, how modern interpretations can often romanticise ancient practices, and whether Matt's mind has been blown. We also consider important issues like the Buddha's retractable penis, incredibly long tongue, and just how strongly we should condemn monks scribbling pictures of their would-be brides. So join us in the cycle of samsara as we strive to earn some merit and at least crawl a little closer to enlightenment.Book ReviewedLopez, D. S. (2025). Buddhism: A Journey through History. Yale University Press.Required Readings - Buddhism A Journey Through History00:00 Introduction to Decoding Academia01:51 Current Book Selection: Buddhism a Journey Through History02:56 Initial Impressions and Apologies06:00 Buddhism's Complexities and Contradictions07:59 Western Perceptions vs. Historical Realities11:27 The Historical Buddha?17:09 Buddhist Approaches to Texts22:09 Comparisons with Other Religions26:38 Orthopraxic Buddhism29:53 Petty Buddhism34:20 Matt's Religion Hot Take37:17 Ashoka: The Buddhist King?39:02 Buddhism's Syncretic Nature39:35 The Syncretic Approach42:49 Anti-Colonial Buddhism43:44 Buddhist Modernism and Science46:58 The Buddhist Canon51:26 Matt's History Thoughts53:06 Buddhism's Cultural and Social Role55:55 Gods and Supernatural Beings56:48 The Attitude towards Women59:36 The Value of Buddhism01:03:35 Religions as Cultural Technologies with Social Functions01:05:54 Monastic Issues01:12:51 Religious Motivations01:14:38 OutroThe full episode is available for Patreon subscribers (1hr 17 mins).Join us at: https://www.patreon.com/DecodingTheGurus

They told you the body was just biology… but the ancients knew better.In this episode, we dive into the Taoist view of the body as an interface.Not just organs and flesh... but energy, emotion, and intelligence.A full system. Wired to the field.Here's what we break down:The real meaning behind the Five Elements (not the watered-down version)Why each organ holds a specific emotion, and how that shapes your realityHow Taoist view maps to frequency, energy fields, and the human physiologyWhat it really means to live in harmony with the cosmosThis isn't wellness fluff.. We call out that false light loop.This is the original blueprint for how your body connects to everything.

In this third installment of my "DharmaByte" column and "UnMind" podcast, exploring the general subject of Zen in our Times, we turn to the last of three suggested topics from Hokai Jeff Harper, Halifax-based publisher of the STO newsletter: • To everything there is a season• The wax and wane of householder zazen practice• What we are feeling right now IS impermanence manifesting itself Hokai somehow managed, perhaps unintentionally, to progressively home in on the central experience of Zen on three levels. Starting with the most universal sphere of our experience on Earth, the seasonality that is an effect of orbiting the sun for approximately 365 rotations of the planet; then down to the social sphere of our practice as householders; and finally into the realm of the intimate, up-close-and-personal sphere of consciousness itself. What I call the "singularity of Zen." As I mentioned in the last segment, we often seem to labor under a misconception that because we follow the lifestyle of householders, we cannot hope to penetrate to the fundamental meaning of the teachings of Buddhism. But Hokai's assertion puts the lie to this assumption. If the Dharma is simply pointing at the present reality that we are experiencing, lifestyle choices cannot possibly have a determinative or dispositive, causal relationship in terms of coming to realization of our buddha mind. What we are feeling now is impermanence manifesting itself, to quote the above quote. Not only what we are feeling now, but what we are seeing and hearing, smelling and tasting, as well as what we are thinking. Or reading, if you are reading this rather than listening to the podcast version. You might quibble with Hokai's construction - "impermanence manifesting itself" - as it suggests that "impermanence" is some sort of independent force capable of manifesting itself, rather than an attribute of the changing nature of the universe. But let's not let mere semantics distract from the message. We are witnessing the "endless, unremitting, unnamable, unthinkable buddha-dharma," as Master Dogen expressed it; and we bear witness to IT mainly through the dynamic of change, or impermanence. Otherwise, we would not register seeing, hearing, smelling, tasting, touching, or even thinking, at all. If nothing were changing, there could be no awareness of it. As I mentioned in the segment on householder practice, renunciation in Zen is a matter of seeing through the delusional aspect of living, not a matter of lifestyle. Discernment in Zen is like Sri Ramakrishna's analogy that, like a swan, we need to be able to drink milk mixed with water, and drink only the milk. Or as Master Tozan analogized: A silver bowl filled with snow A heron hidden in the moonTaken as similar, they are not the sameNot distinguished, their places are known So this refined awareness of the nondual nature of reality, termed "emptiness," as opposed to "form" or appearance, is so close to ordinary reality, or perceptual duality, that it is nearly indistinguishable — like white snow in a silver bowl, or a white heron and the full moon — white on white. Buddha taught that the discriminating mind imposes a "false stillness" on reality, tamping down the uninhibited flow of sensory data to a dull roar. This enables us to maintain our balance and negotiate a dynamic, 4-dimensional spacetime environment.This is part of the natural process of "individuation" that sets in once we are born, and culminates in the conception of the independent self, which is a fundamental category error, according to Buddhism. The original alienation that is our fall from grace. It is not that Buddhism claims there is no self whatever. There is a constructed self, and there is a true self, according to this model. The prevalent perception of separation as an incarnated being is not entirely delusional. But it is incomplete — reification of a separate self ignores the rest of the story, the fact that all beings are interconnected, co-arisen and co-dependent. The Twelvefold Chain of Interdependent Arising, attributed to Shakyamuni, parses this coming-of-age story, slicing and dicing stages of development finely, like an Italian chef shaving garlic with a razorblade. This is similar to Master Dogen's fine discernment of reality — from a perspective uniting space, or existence, and time — as articulated in Uji—Being-Time, explored in some detail in a prior podcast. What he referred to as the "fine mind of Nirvana," or the "subtle mind of Nirvana." Master Sengcan, third Chinese patriarch after Bodhidharma and his successor Huike, points to something similar in Hsinhsinming—Trust in Mind: In this world of Suchness there is neither self nor other-than-selfTo come into harmony with this realityJust simply say when doubt arises: "not two"In this "not two" nothing is separate nothing is excludedNo matter when or where Enlightenment means entering this truthAnd this truth is beyond extension or diminution in time or spaceIn it a single thought is ten thousand years Believing in the fundamental bifurcation of consciousness into self-and-other, body versus mind — the "Cartesian error" — is resolved in realizing that "you can't have one without the other," or as the more contemporary trope would have it, "both things can be true at the same time." "Neither-self-nor-other-than-self" indicates the True Self of Buddhism, undivided from the very beginning. "Not-two" is the mantra we conjure whenever any doubt about this arises. At the risk of repeating myself — with the caveat that these teachings bear repetition, especially in changing contexts — the last stanza returns us to the singularity of Zen: No matter when or whereEnlightenment means entering this truthAnd this truth is beyond extension or diminution in time or spaceIn it a single thought is ten thousand years The last line of which Matsuoka-roshi would encapsulate as "The eternal moment." So it all comes down to this. Like a fish-trap, reality ensnares us in its wide reach, and as we pursue our own realization — which, after all, is, or should be, our birthright — we find the trap narrowing again and again, until there is no escape, no turning back; like the exhausted swimmer at the halfway point, it is just as far, and equally risky, to try to make it back safely to shore as it is to continue swimming to the island. If we persevere, finally finding ourselves on the "other shore," we can see clearly that we have been seeing things all wrong, all along. There never has been a separate self to embody, let alone to defend against all comers, let alone any existential annihilation. In the not-two nonduality of Zen's reality, it was all like a bad dream, one that we essentially made up — with a little help from our friends and family, of course, not to mention the entire world of benighted people who fear death and, consequently, life. This is not to insist that everyone else is wrong about everything, and that only I and my like-minded friends from the enchanted land of Zen have the inside track. In one sense, it must be true that everyone has a hunch about this — an inkling that something is missing — and that that something is worth knowing. Otherwise we would probably all commit mass suicide, in despair. Which is exactly what it looks like we are doing, with an assist from the stewards, elected or not, of our commonweal. Can anyone say "lemmings"? But Buddhism never seemed to show much concern about the survival of the species. Celibacy is the quickest way to bring down the curtain on humanity - simply not giving birth to the next generation. Of course, the coterie of those who abjure bearing children is not likely to ever encompass a majority of the population, so that kind of extinction is not going to happen. No, it is more likely that Mother Nature's balancing act will bring about the demise of humanity owing to our disruption of her sphere of influence, so carefully nurtured to bring the miracle of life to the planet in the first place, as the goddess Gaia: In Greek mythology, Gaia is the personification of the Earth and a primordial goddess, one of the first deities to emerge from Chaos. She is often referred to as Mother Earth and is considered the mother of all life. And life itself is "fleeting as an arrow" according to Buddha. What we are feeling in the present is this fleeting moment, our life passing before our very eyes, ears, nose, tongue, body and mind in a vast network of frequencies in polyrhythmic synchrony. Our heartbeat is our metronome, the rise and fall of the breathing our connection to the thin atmospheric blanket embracing the earth. On a personal basis, there is no time to waste in foolish pursuits, as the sage Jianzhi Sengcan reminds us in Hsinhsinming: Waste no time in doubts and arguments that have nothing to do with this A century later, Master Sekito Kisen says it another way, in Sandokai: I respectfully urge you who study the Mysterydo not pass your days and nights in vain So Hokai does us a great service to remind us of the evanescence of spacetime in the personal realm, embedded in our social context as householders, surrounded by the world of Nature both nurturing and threatening us, finally floating in the constancy of the universal. Let Tozan Ryokai have the last word on it, after yet another century, from his Hokyo Zammai: Within causes and conditions time and season it is serene and illuminating
So minute it enters where there is no gap so vast it transcends dimensionA hairsbreadth deviation and you are out of tune It seems that all three of the great Ch'an masters are speaking with one voice, urging us to pay attention. There is not so much to their Buddhism after all, as one sage commented upon the occasion of his insight. So Hokai's assertion that what we are feeling right now IS impermanence manifesting itself is subject to Master Dogen's repeat comment: "All things are like this." Not only what we are feeling right now — but what we are seeing and hearing, smelling and tasting and yes, even what we are thinking right now — is, in one sense, impermanence. It is not only in front of your face, it is also behind your face, penetrating your hearing with no boundary, in and out through your nose and mouth (and other orifices), and enveloping your body outside and inside, clean and clear through your original mind. Tozan says, with stunning nonchalance, earlier in the poem: You are not IT — but in truth IT is you Buddha is attributed with saying something like — that there is impermanence means that there is permanence. And his followers were overjoyed to hear that. What made them so happy? Again recalling Hsinhsinming—Trust in Mind: Change appearing to occur in the empty world we call real —only because of our ignorance So the nondual version of this insight is that IT is both changing and staying the same at the same time. This should bring about a great sigh of relief in all who realize it.

To live with an undefended heart is a cornerstone of Mary's practice and teaching. However with all the challenges in today's world, does it still make sense. In this talk Mary discusses what it means to live this way and how it is more important than ever right now. Keeping our hearts open is the path to freedom and allows us to be fully present for each moment - whatever it brings.Recorded June 28, 2025 in the virtual worldSend me a text with any questions or comments! Include your name and email if you would like a response - it's not included automatically. Thanks.Visit Mary's website for more info on classes and teachings.

Eddie Laiche, of San Luis Obispo, CA, wondered what one person could possibly do about the threat of nuclear war. Today he relies on his Buddhist practice to bring him the hope and courage necessary to take steps toward peace. We discuss the Buddhist view on sustainable change and the vital role one individual can play.You can watch today's episode on our YouTube channel.Resources:“On the Buddha's Prophecy,” The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin, vol. 1, p. 402. 

The Himalaya are the highest and greatest mountain range on earth, and their importance to Asian culture and history cannot be overstated.  1.6 billion people rely on fresh water that drains from the Himalaya and the Tibetan Plateau. In this episode, we focus on Ladakh, the northernmost territory in India, the "Land of High Passes" where the most prominent passes over the Himalaya could be found, passes that brought Buddhism to Tibet, Islam to India, and culture to all parts of Asia.  Leading a caravan over the passes was not for the faint of heart - or the faint of oxygen. Since Ladakh is next door to Kashmir, we will talk about one of my favorite Kashmiri dishes: Rogan Josh! Photo by Reflectionsbyprajakta

Join the waitlist for Cheryl's NEW Free Reboot Your relationship course - coming soon! Together with your partner, learn the steps to transform your relationship, reignite love, improve communication, and embrace sensuality. Say goodbye to procrastination and hello to real, lasting change.  Click here to get on the waitlist and you'll also be notified when the doors to the next session of the Become Passion Program open! “Is my misery all in my head?” “Why can't I focus on the positives?” “How can I learn to change the story my mind is telling me?” How can we change the stories in our heads? How can we deal with the monkey mind? And how can we begin to accept the truth that everything we experience in life is 100% mind made? This episode of Sex, Love & Elephants features a Dharma Talk centered around how pesky our minds can be and how much misery our wandering thoughts can bring us.  Today, I'm teaching you what we can do to work with the mind to understand its storytelling, to understand the nightmare scenarios it paints in our head, and what we can do to work with that so we'll be happier, calmer, more effective, more compassionate, and have a much better life. Ready to rate your relationship? Take Cheryl's Passion Quiz today and see how you and your honey rank. In This Episode, You'll Learn: (09:32) Any moment is created in the mind based on a selection of the data that we're experiencing in that moment (14:45) We're all born into pretty lucky human lives, even if we've suffered trauma (26:16) The stories we create all day long are just as equally fictional as a nightmare (33:52) If I don't like the fact that I'm feeling angry or upset or lonely or vulnerable, I can recognize it's a story and I can work with the mind to change it (48:11) In a mortal body, there's going to be pain and illness and it is going to die suddenly or slowly Curious about Become Passion? Check out testimonials HERE from real couples just like you who have saved their relationships! Want to learn more about Buddhism and relationships? Cheryl's book Buddha's Bedroom is a great resource!  Let's Connect!   Follow @DrCherylFraser on Instagram Website - Sign up for Weekly LoveBytes here  Youtube

In this episode, we explore a profound teaching from the Madhyamaka-Prasangika tradition of Buddhism: the Two Truths — conventional truth and ultimate truth.Conventional truth refers to how things appear and function in everyday life: emotions, objects, people, and experiences. These phenomena can help or harm us, so they exist — but only in a dependent, relative way. Ultimate truth, on the other hand, points to the emptiness of all phenomena — the fact that nothing exists independently or inherently. Things lack an independent self or essence; they arise in dependence upon causes, conditions, parts, and the mind that labels them.As His Holiness the Dalai Lama explains, this doesn't mean things are totally nonexistent (which would be nihilism). Rather, they exist, but not in the way they appear. Everything that seems solid or independently real is, under closer analysis, part of an interconnected web of causes and conditions.The concept of dependent origination is central. A tree, for example, arises from a seed, soil, sunlight, and water — and is made of parts like roots, leaves, and branches. Remove any of those, and the “tree” cannot exist. Even deeper, a tree is only called a “tree” because we label it that way. Its identity is not found in any single part.There are three types of dependence:Dependence on causes and conditions (e.g., how events or behaviors arise from past influences).Dependence on parts (e.g., how a whole object exists only because of its parts).Dependence on conceptual designation (e.g., how things are named and understood by the mind).These layers show us that what we perceive as independently existing entities are actually mental constructions. Much like a movie appears real on screen, the world appears real and self-contained — but is, in truth, a projection of causes and labels.Importantly, this teaching isn't just intellectual. It's a tool to reduce suffering. Our negative emotions — anger, fear, pride — stem from grasping at things as solid and unchanging. When we realize their empty, dependent nature, our reactivity softens. We're less quick to judge or cling.Emptiness, then, isn't a void — it's a liberating insight into how things really are: interconnected, ever-changing, and free of inherent identity. This understanding doesn't negate reality — it enriches it, making space for wisdom and compassion to grow.

Thank you for listening. These Dharma talks were recorded at Muddy Water Zen Buddhist temple in Royal Oak, Michigan. These Dharma talks were recorded at Muddy Water Zen Buddhist Temple in Royal Oak, Michigan.For more information about Buddhism, the Korean Taego order, or visiting our Temple, please visit our website www.muddywaterzen.orgYou can listen to a podcast of this episode at at https://anchor.fm/s/5f94ec88/podcast/rss or find us on your favorite podcast service. more about Buddhism, the Korean Taego order, or our Temple at www.muddywaterzen.org

Why are we here? Seriously, what's the point? Why is there a universe where we lose everyone we love and everybody dies? Why is there war and famine and widespread poverty? Is there a purpose? What purpose could there be for all this suffering? Is life a cruel joke?These are the age-old questions that have puzzled humans for thousands of years. But perhaps we've been looking for answers in the wrong places. In this podcast, I share why we're truly here, how to get through life's hardest times, and how to go from wondering why we're here to feeling blessed and grateful for this precious gift of human life.Please enjoy other episodes where I share meditation techniques, tips and spiritual lessons from around the world for peaceful and stress-free living. Remember to subscribe to stay up-to-date.*****If you ever feel like my words brought a change in your life, and want to show your SUPPORT for what I am doing, click here. Find all of my BOOKS for wherever you are on your spiritual journey: https://www.eastwesticism.org/spiritual-meditation-books/Want to gift a book to a prisoner? Go here.

What is ‘animism' and what kind of philosophy does it entail? Dhivan considers how animism rests on an intuition about the aliveness of the world, and how this intuition can inform a mode of philosophy that does not bypass the earth as the living presence behind all thinking. This talk was given at Adhisthana as part of the series Wisdom of the Earth: Philosophy and the Climate Crisis, 2023. *** Help us keep FBA Podcasts free for everyone! Donate now: https://freebuddhistaudio.com/donate Subscribe to our Free Buddhist Audio podcast: A full, curated, quality Dharma talk, every week. Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/dharmabytes-from-free-buddhist-audio/id416832097 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4UHPDj01UH6ptj8FObwBfB YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@FreeBuddhistAudio1967  

In a conversation on cultivating compassion, authors and professors John Maransky and Paul Condon explore how to activate our natural capacity to care for all beings.This time on Mindrolling, John, Paul, and Raghu discuss:Paul and John's spiritual and personal journeys, and how they came together to write How Compassion WorksSeeing the humanity in all beings and opening our hearts even to our perceived enemiesLooking to the fundamentals of Tibetan Buddhism in order to cultivate compassionDropping into the grounded depth of our awareness so that we can meet that same quality in othersBecoming aware of our reactive minds as the first step on the path of compassionAdding in psychological and scientific perspectives to the practice of compassionOur natural capacity to care and how it takes less effort than hate/conflictEmbodying ideals of kindness and seeing others in a less superficial wayPracticing honest self-reflection to assess and grow our capacity for compassionThe domino effect of love and kindness– how seeing compassion in action inspires othersReunifying with our inner beings and loving nature through mindfulness The symbiotic relationship of love and wisdomRecommendations From This Episode: Learn more about Sustainable Compassion via audio guided meditations, videos, retreats, writings, and more!Order your copy of John and Paul's newly released book, How Compassion Works, HEREAbout John Makransky, Ph.D.John Makransky, PhD, is Associate Professor of Buddhism and Comparative Theology at Boston College, senior advisor for Chokyi Nyima Rinpoche's Centre of Buddhist Studies in Nepal and developer of the Sustainable Compassion Training model for accessing innate capacities of compassion and awareness. John's academic writings have focused on connections between practices of wisdom, compassion and devotion in Indo-Tibetan Buddhism, on adapting Buddhist practices for contemporary minds, and on interfaith learning. In 2000, John was ordained as a Lama, a meditation teacher of innate compassion and wisdom, within the Nyingma Dzogchen tradition of Tibetan Buddhism. As a meditation teacher, John is known for guiding participants in their discovery of underlying powers of love and wisdom. Since 2000, John has taught meditations of innate compassion and wisdom, adapted from Tibetan Buddhism, for modern Buddhists, those in other spiritual traditions, and for people in caring roles and professions.“In order to really be the kind of person that can make a beneficial difference in our world, we have to learn how to drop down below the superficial reactive level of consciousness we all tend to live on together into more of the depth of our being, the ground of our experience.” – John MaranskyAbout Paul Condon, Ph.D.Paul Condon is an associate professor of psychology at Southern Oregon University, a visiting lecturer for the Centre for Buddhist Studies at Rangjung Yeshe Institute, and a fellow of the Mind & Life Institute. His research examines the ways that psychological science can inform the adaptation of meditation practices in dialogue with contemplative traditions, with an emphasis on compassion training. His research and writing also examine the constructed nature of emotion and concepts, attachment theory, and the impact of meditation on compassion and prosocial behavior. Paul also teaches meditation practices adapted from the Tibetan Nyingma tradition. He has studied and collaborated with John Makransky to develop and teach Sustainable Compassion Training. His practice and teaching have also been informed by study with Tsoknyi Rinpoche, Chokyi Nyima Rinpoche, Lama Willa Baker, and the Courage of Care Coalition. "Care is a natural capacity and being in a caring relationship with another being is more natural and less effortful than being in an antagonist or conflict-based connection.” – Paul CondonSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Jordan takes a critical look at the benefits of zazen and questions whether that was ever really the point, or even something we should rely on. Can meditation become a form of avoidance? Is the need to feel better just one more attempt to control the world? And if Buddhism is really working why do we still wake up with a brain full of a-hole thoughts and feelings? Find out here!

In this expansive overview of spirit beings and how they operate in our world, Llewellyn Vaughan-Lee explains his personal encounters with Angels, Devas, and more.Today's podcast is brought to you by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at betterhelp.com/beherenow and get on your way to being your best self.This week on the BHNN Guest Podcast, Llewellyn illuminates:Awakening to our divine nature through spiritual practice and accessing higher dimensions of consciousnessThe sacred worldview of our ancestors vs. the spiritual emptiness of modern cultureLessons from Lakota Medicine Man, Black Elk, on restoring awareness of the sacred nature of all thingsHow Angels and Devas have effected Llewellyn's life and brought him messages about humanityThe disconnection from unseen realms and its impact on human consciousnessLlewellyn's detailed description of different types of AngelsJinns, spirits made of fire in the islamic tradition which have free will to do good or evilDevas, aka, the spiritual intelligence within natureHow reconnecting with nature's spirit can help heal ecological destructionEncounters with elemental tricksters and darker beings from other dimensionsHow violence and darkness obscure the radiant light of our true consciousnessThe sustaining power of light and love on both the soul and cellular levels of beingAbout Llewellyn:Llewellyn Vaughan-Lee, Ph.D. is a Sufi teacher in the Naqshbandiyya-Mujaddidiyya Sufi Order. He is the author of Sufism, the Transformation of the Heart, and the founder of The Golden Sufi Center. Check out his new podcast Working With Oneness. “I live surrounded by these other worlds, not fully understanding why our culture had to cut off all the inner worlds from our consciousness, why we have to live in such a bleak environment in which even our dreams are censored. And what does it mean to this present liminal time when we no longer have angels to guide us, nature spirits to help bring us back into balance with the natural world and its patterns of biodiversity? ” – Llewellyn Vaughan-LeeSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

China is a bit list-crazy, and among its myriad lists is the "Four Sacred Mountains of Buddhism" list. Listen to this Chinese lesson, learn some more about Buddhism, and for you mountain-lovers out there, maybe even gain a new item or two for your China travel itinerary. Episode link: https://www.chinesepod.com/1628

Honing in on Right Speech and maintaining harmony, Joseph Goldstein encourages listeners to develop a commitment to telling the truth and refraining from slander.The Satipatthana Sutta is one of the most celebrated and widely studied discourses in the Pāli Canon of Theravada Buddhism. This episode is the 44th part of an in-depth 48-part lecture series from Joseph Goldstein that delves into every aspect of the Satipatthana Sutta. If you are just now jumping into the Satipatthana Sutta series, listen to Insight Hour Ep. 203 to follow along and get the full experience!This episode is brought to you by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at betterhelp.com/insighthour and get on your way to being your best selfIn this episode's exploration of the Satipatthana Sutta, Joseph Goldstein reviews:Practicing Right Speech, Right Action, and Right Livelihood with the same dedication as meditationThe influence of our speech on our lives (our relationships, minds, karmic outcomes)Truthfulness as the most basic concept of right speech in Buddhist ethicsInvestigating the deeper motivations behind what we say and how we say itThe harmful ripple effects of lying on trust, connection, and societal cohesionInsights from the Buddha: why truth must be spoken at all times, regardless of a perceived advantageLies of omission and the subtle ways we distort or avoid truthCultivating the courage and mindfulness required to speak honestly in daily lifeRefraining from gossip and slander in order to avoid disharmony Examining the emotional tone of speech—choosing words that are gentle, compassionate, and unifyingHow harsh language does not serve good communication Transforming the divisive world we live in through right speech How we listen as an equally important component of right speechThis episode was originally published on DharmaseedGrab a copy of the book Joseph references throughout this series, Satipaṭṭhāna: The Direct Path to Realization, HERE"This doesn't mean that there should be a suppression of what we're feeling. It's not a papering over of the truth of our emotions, but rather, it's to be mindful enough that we can communicate what we're feeling in a way that promotes connection rather than promotes divisiveness. This is a practice. Right speech is a practice." – Joseph GoldsteinSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Krishna Das gives insights on continual grace and transforming our self-limiting inner narratives through spiritual practice.This episode is brought to you by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at betterhelp.com/insighthour and get on your way to being your best selfThis week on Pilgrim Heart, Krishna Das thoughtfully discusses:What it means for the guru to have a key to our mindsTeachings from Siddhi Ma: knowing that everything is grace, but acting like it isn'tPutting effort into loving everyone, serving everyone, and remembering GodThe story of Maharaj-ji in England with a military devotee Our subjective reality as the product of our karmic cycleReconciling our faith with spiritual practice and seeing God in many formsKrishna Das' take on Buddhism and dealing with the afflictions of the mindUsing chanting and mantra to release shame and stay rooted in the present momentLetting go of the stories we tell ourselves and reclaiming the power to change our livesAbout Krishna Das:Layering traditional Hindu kirtan with instantly accessible melodies and modern instrumentation, Grammy nominee Krishna Das has been called yoga's “rock star.” With a remarkably soulful voice that touches the deepest chord in even the most casual listener, Krishna Das – known to friends, family, and fans as simply KD – has taken the call-and-response chanting out of yoga centers and into concert halls, becoming a worldwide icon and the best-selling chant artist of all time. His album ‘Live Ananda' (released January 2012) was nominated for a Grammy in the Best New Age album category.KD spent the late '60s traveling across the country as a student of Ram Dass, and in August 1970, he finally made the journey to India, which led him to Ram Dass' own beloved guru, Neem Karoli Baba, known to most as Maharaj-ji. Krishna Das now travels the world sharing his kirtan practice and wonderful stories of his life, of Maharaji-ji, of his life on the Path and discusses bringing chanting into our lives through retreats and workshops. To date, KD has released 15 well-received albums, most recently Trust in the Heart released in October 2017.MORE INFORMATION and OFFERINGS VISIT: https://krishnadas.com/ KRISHNA DAS ON SOCIAL: FACEBOOK: facebook.com/KrishnaDasMusic INSTAGRAM: instagram.com/krishnadasmusic YOUTUBE: / krishnadasmusic X: @krishnadas #KrishnaDas"We have to make our effort to open to that grace, calm the mind, repeat the name, think of others. Like Maharaj-ji said, ‘serve everyone, love everyone, remember God'. There's not one of those three things that I can do completely, and so, my effort is required to open to the space where that's reality." – Krishna DasSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Part 1 Devotion by Dani Shapiro Summary"Devotion" by Dani Shapiro is a memoir that explores themes of spirituality, identity, and the quest for meaning in life. In this reflective narrative, Shapiro shares her personal journey through a series of existential questions sparked by the turbulence and uncertainty in her life.The book delves into Shapiro's childhood experiences growing up in a Jewish family that was both devout and culturally rich, as well as her feelings of disconnection from traditional religious practices. As she navigates her adult life, Shapiro grapples with her relationship to faith, spirituality, and the ways in which these concepts shape her identity and understanding of herself.The catalyst for her explorations arises from personal crises, including the struggle to make sense of life's unpredictability and her existential reflections following the sudden death of loved ones. Throughout the memoir, she discusses her attempts to find solace in various spiritual traditions, drawing on the teachings of Buddhism, Judaism, and other philosophies, while also confronting her own skepticism.Ultimately, "Devotion" is not just about religion but is a meditation on the human experience, the desire for connection, and the paths we choose to seek comfort and purpose. Shapiro's writing is deeply introspective and often lyrical, inviting readers to consider their own beliefs and the outward expressions of faith in their lives.Part 2 Devotion AuthorDani Shapiro is an acclaimed American author known for her memoirs, novels, and essays. Her book "Devotion" was published on June 23, 2010. In this deeply personal memoir, she explores themes of faith, spirituality, and identity, reflecting on her life experiences and the role of religion in her life. Other WorksAside from "Devotion," Dani Shapiro has written several other books, both fiction and non-fiction. Here are some notable titles:"Slow Motion" (1998) This memoir details her life as she navigates her mother's sudden death and her own tumultuous youth."Family History" (2000) A novel that delves into the complexities of family dynamics."The Wild Fleece" (2008) A memoir that reflects on raising her son amid family legacies."Hourglass: Time, Memory, Marriage" (2017) This memoir examines the passage of time and the nuances of marriage and memory."Inheritance: A Memoir of Genealogy, Paternity, and Love" (2019) A recent memoir where Shapiro uncovers family secrets through DNA testing."Signal Fires" (2022) A poignant novel that interweaves the lives of three families over decades. Most Acclaimed WorkIn terms of critical acclaim and popularity, "Inheritance" has received significant attention for its timely exploration of identity and the implications of genetic testing in understanding family history. Readers have found it profoundly moving, connecting deeply with Shapiro's narrative style and emotional honesty.Shapiro's works have been characterized by her introspective prose and ability to present complex themes with clarity and depth, making her books both accessible and thought-provoking.Part 3 Devotion Chapters"Devotion" by Dani Shapiro is a poignant memoir that explores themes of spirituality, faith, and identity. The narrative delves into Shapiro's search for meaning and connection in a world filled with uncertainty, as well as her struggles with the concept of religious faith and her own Jewish heritage.The book is structured around several key chapters that depict different stages of Shapiro's life:Childhood and Identity: The memoir opens with reflections on Shapiro's childhood in a Jewish family, where she grapples with cultural identity and the complexities of faith.Personal Loss: Shapiro recounts significant losses in her life, including the death of loved ones, which serve as catalysts for her spiritual

 This Teisho was given by the Reverend Karen Do'on Weik Roshi at the Buddhist Temple of Toledo on April 3, 2024. In this talk Do'on Roshi finishes her discussion on the 43rd case from the Mumonkan (aka The Gateless Gate) known as Shushan's Short Bamboo Staff.   If you would like to learn more about the Buddhist Temple of Toledo or to make a donation in support of this podcast please visit buddhisttempleoftoledo.org.

In this talk Jogen replies to a number of questions from practitioners during the Heart of Wisdom Wednesday night program on June 4 2025. Some questions include: Why is consciousness not the self? How to I balance striving, and relaxing and opening up? How do I balance enjoying pleasure and not attaching to it in my practice?  ★ Support this podcast ★

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One of the most radical things you can do is live your life in direct opposition to the forces that control our society. Not just fighting for policies or organizing your community, although those are certainly important parts of it, but also living with values that oppose the values of our dominant society. And even more importantly, raising the next generation to embody those values—not in a coercive way, but through organic parenting and role modeling that make radicalism irresistible. This is how we raise revolutionaries: instilling community, love, egalitarianism, and a need for justice into children. And this is just what our guest in today's episode has devoted himself to doing. Breht O'Shea is an activist, organizer, political educator, and host of the podcast Revolutionary Left Radio and co-host of the podcasts Red Menace and Shoeless in South Dakota. He is a father of three based out of Omaha Nebraska. In this conversation, Part 3 of our Post Capitalist Parenting series, Breht shares with us insights about parenting that he's learned over the years as a father of three and what Marxism teaches us about parenting. We discuss the classic text by Engels, The Origin of the Family, Private Property and the State, which is a dialectical materialist analysis of patriarchy and the family, tracing the emergence of the patriarchal family and it took through various iterations of class society but also exploring what families have looked like under actually-existing socialism and also what it might look like under communism. We also explore the anti-natalist position which attempts to argue that having children is immoral, why this perspective is deeply flawed, what Buddhism can teach us about parenting, and much, much more. Support Breht and Rev Left Radio, and join their community HERE Further Resources The Origin of the Family, Private Property and the State, Freidrich Engels Why Women Have Better Sex Under Socialism: And Other Arguments for Economic Independence, by Kristen Ghodsee Related Episodes: Post Capitalist Parenting Pt. 1: Parenting Under Capitalism w/ Toi Smith Post Capitalist Parenting Pt. 2: Reimagining the Family w/ Kristen Ghodsee Revolutionary Leftism with Breht O'Shea Buddhism and Marxism with Breht O'Shea What is To Be Done? with Breht O'Shea and Alyson Escalante Imperialism, The Highest Stage of Capitalism w/ Breht O'Shea and Alyson Escalante Red Menace: "The Origin of the Family, Private Property, and The State" by Friedrich Engels (Pt. 1) Why Women Have Better Sex Under Socialism w/ Kristen Ghodsee Intermission music: "Cool 4 U" by Club Cafe Upstream is a labor of love—we couldn't keep this project going without the generosity of our listeners and fans. Subscribe to our Patreon at patreon.com/upstreampodcast or please consider chipping in a one-time or recurring donation at www.upstreampodcast.org/support If your organization wants to sponsor one of our upcoming documentaries, we have a number of sponsorship packages available. Find out more at  upstreampodcast.org/sponsorship For more from Upstream, visit www.upstreampodcast.org and follow us on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, and Bluesky. You can also subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to your favorite podcasts.

We chase happiness like it's just around the corner. Could our final destination, “happiness,” be hidden in a new relationship, job title, city, or home? But His Holiness the Dalai Lama, with his childlike laugh and mountain-like presence, has let us in on a little secret: the true source of happiness isn't getting what we want. It's cherishing others. It's being kind.  The Dalai Lama says, “The basic source of all happiness is a sense of kindness and warm-heartedness towards others.” Buddhist teachings remind us again and again that when we shift the spotlight from ourselves, a strange thing happens. Our minds soften. Our hearts open. And we begin to feel...better. Lighter. More connected. Cherishing others means genuinely caring about their happiness and well-being, just like we do for ourselves. And when we practice this, whether by listening with full attention, letting someone go ahead of us in line, or sending a silent wish for a stranger's joy, we start to feel more joy ourselves. Real joy. The kind that doesn't depend on circumstances. According to the Dalai Lama, “Thinking only about yourself—having a very self-centered attitude—creates a lot of anxiety, loneliness, fear, and anger.” It turns out that the road to lasting happiness isn't paved with self-fulfillment, but with love that stretches beyond the self.  Resources  Dalai Lama. The purpose of life is to be happy. Retrieved from:https://www.dalailama.com/messages/transcripts-and-interviews/the-purpose-of-life-is-to-be-happy Find us at the links below:  Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/Buddhismforeveryone Facebook Group:Join our private group at: https://www.facebook.com/groups/sanghatalk/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/buddhism.with.joann.fox X: @Joannfox77 TikTok: @buddhism4everyone To learn more about virtual classes with JoAnn Fox: Buddhist Study Program Our Dharma Shop on Etsy: https://www.etsy.com/shop/BuddhismForEveryone

Mikey Livid discusses a practical approach to the often overly intellectualized Buddhist concepts of no self (anatta) and the five aggregates. The five aggregates are: form, feeling, perception, mental inclination, and consciousness. Enjoy!UPCOMING RETREATS:July 16th-20th Sewanee, TN - Loving Kindness Meditation Retreat: https://www.floweringlotusmeditation.org/2025-tennesee-summer-loving-kindness-retreatNov. 13th-16th - Southern Dharma Retreat Center - Get Your Mind Right!: https://southerndharma.org/retreat-schedule/1522/get-your-mind-right-a-young-peoples-retreat-on-the-four-great-efforts/ Wild Heart Meditation Center in a non-profit Buddhist community based in Nashville, TN. https://www.wildheartmeditationcenter.orgDONATE: If you feel moved to support WHMC financially please visit:https://www.wildheartmeditationcenter.org/donateFollow Us on Socials!Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WildHeartNashville/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wildheartnashville/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@wildheartmeditation

This traditional dessert has been around for centuries and is considered part of Japanese culture.  It has connections to Buddhism and now can be found all over the country.  You can get it any time of the year, but at Christmas there are special holiday themes and designs.  We're exploring the history and origins of wagashi. Website: https://www.seasonseatingspodcast.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/seasonseatingspodcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/seasonseatingspod Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/seasonseatpod.bsky.social Email: seasonseatingspodcast@gmail.com Youtube: https://youtube.com/@seasonseatings Ko-fi: https://ko-fi.com/seasonseatings

When you're feeling stressed, burnt out, and anxious — when you're striving and achieving but still finding yourself persistently dissatisfied with life — you might start looking for answers beyond what's offered by contemporary self-help.One ancient philosophy that can cast light on the sources of and solutions to our seemingly modern dilemmas is Buddhism. If you've ever been intrigued by Buddhism but admittedly only have a vague sense of what it's all about, Brendan Barca — co-author of The Daily Buddhist: 366 Days of Mindful Living — will walk you through its foundational principles.We begin our conversation with how Buddhism is similar to and different from other ancient philosophies like Stoicism, and Brendan offers an accessible introduction to the Four Noble Truths and the Eightfold Path. In the second half of our conversation, we explore how Buddhist principles and practices can be applied to our everyday modern lives and help you deal with the anxiety created by living in an impermanent world, shift your perspective on daily challenges, and cultivate greater compassion and patience. We discuss different meditation methods, the real purpose of meditation, and how to get started with it as a beginner. We end our conversation with the Buddha's final words and what it means to “strive with vigilance.”Resources Related to the PodcastShamatha MeditationVipassana (Insight) MeditationTonglen MeditationAoM Article: A Primer on MeditationConnect With Brendan BarcaThe Daily Buddhist websiteThe Daily Buddhist on IG

In this episode of the Secular Buddhism podcast, I explore what it means to “be a lamp unto yourself.” Drawing from personal stories, including my time teaching paragliding, and Buddhist teachings on wisdom, I reflect on the journey from seeking external guidance to cultivating trust in your own inner knowing. What does it mean to become your own teacher? How can we balance learning from others while honoring our unique path? Join me as we look beyond the teacher and into the deeper work of awakening your own wisdom. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

For episode 266, Amishi Jha returns to the Metta Hour for our ongoing Anxiety Series.In this series, Sharon is speaking with Mental Health experts, providers and different researchers for tools to work with anxiety in increasingly challenging times. This is the sixth episode in the series.Amishi is Director of Contemplative Neuroscience and Professor of Psychology at the University of Miami. She studies the brain's attention system and the effects of mindfulness training on resilience and performance in high-demand professions, including the military, emergency services, and medicine. Her research has been supported by the Dept. of Defense and featured by TED, NATO, the World Economic Forum, The New York Times, and NPR. She led the first large-scale study of mindfulness training with active-duty service members. She is the author of the national bestseller Peak Mind and creator of the Pushups for the Mind app.In this episode, Amishi and Sharon speak about:• Mindfulness in mental health• Cognitive resilience• Eustress and how it serves us• Mismatch between capacity and challenge • Attention as resilience• Flashlight attention for clarification & focus• Floodlight attention for situation awareness • Executive Functioning• How to begin attention training• Myths about stress and anxiety• The participatory nature of the brain• The attentional decline of burnout• Compassion Fatigue• Cognitive versus emotional empathy• Amishi's new app, Pushups for the Mind• The minimum effective dose of meditation To learn more about Amishi's work, you can visit her website right here and download her new app right here. Please note that the Pushups for the Mind app is free for all U.S. active service military members.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The mindful body with Ellen LangerCan mindfulness be contagious?Ellen Langer's research certainly seems to suggest that's the case. As Professor of Psychology at Harvard University and the author of 'The Mindful Body', Ellen has racked up decades of experience and numerous awards during her investigations into the impact of mindful living.In this interview, Ellen discusses the transformative power of mindfulness in our daily lives, exploring how most of us operate mindlessly and therefore miss out on the incredible benefits that mindful practices can bring to our physical and mental health. Don't hesitate to email us at podcast@iai.tv with your thoughts or questions on the episode!To witness such debates live buy tickets for our upcoming festival: https://howthelightgetsin.org/festivals/And visit our website for many more articles, videos, and podcasts like this one: https://iai.tv/You can find everything we referenced here: https://linktr.ee/philosophyforourtimesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

We talk often about the practice being a path to liberation, but what do we actually mean when we say that? In this dharma reflection, Mary investigates what liberation, freedom, awakening all mean in the various schools and lineages of Buddhism. Although the ideas may vary across the teachings, they are all grounded in compassion, wisdom and clear seeing. Recorded June 21, 2025 in the virtual worldSend me a text with any questions or comments! Include your name and email if you would like a response - it's not included automatically. Thanks.Visit Mary's website for more info on classes and teachings.

This is the fifth talk in a series on the Art of Living By Thich Naht Hanh. Hogen dicusses what he calls the physics of reality. He discusses impermanence and how it changes how we relate to our live and our sense of aliveness. ★ Support this podcast ★

From 6 years in isolation to sounding the alarm, Buddhist Gelong Thubten reveals the hidden epidemic no one is talking about with Stress, Depression, Buddhism, Meditation, Mental Health and more. Thubten is one of the UK's most influential meditation teachers, who spent 6 years in isolated meditation retreats, including one which lasted 4 years. He is also the bestselling author of books such as, ‘Handbook for Hard Times: A Monk's Guide to Fearless Living'. He explains: The hidden mental health crisis that's silently destroying your emotional well-being. Why Western culture increases anxiety, depression, and disconnection The biggest myths about meditation and how to meditate properly.  The real reason your meditation practice isn't working. How screen time and phone addiction are hijacking your brain and inner peace. Why rejecting pleasure can lead to lasting connection and clarity. How unresolved trauma controls your mind and how mindfulness can free you. 00:00 Intro 02:32 Why Is Thubten's Message More Important Now Than Ever Before? 03:02 Thubten's Concerns About Western Society 03:51 Where Does Life Purpose Come From? 05:15 Is Search for Purpose a Misplaced Pursuit? 06:28 Why Is Western Society Increasingly Unhappy? 08:55 Is It Wrong to Find Meaning in the Pursuit of Goals? 11:38 What Led Thubten to Become a Monk? 13:50 Gelong's Difficult Past and Its Impact on His Mind 18:06 Where Do Negative Internal Voices Originate From? 19:03 Who Influenced Thubten to Go to a Monastery? 19:53 Thubten's Heart Condition 20:49 Key Aspects of Living as a Monk 22:25 What Are the Advantages of Celibacy? 24:23 Is Abstinence Sufficient to Overcome Compulsive Behaviour? 27:06 What Is Buddhism? 29:43 Thubten's Journey of Healing 31:33 What Is Meditation? 36:38 Benefits of Buddhist Practices 41:12 Can a Buddhist Mindset Go Hand in Hand With Effectiveness at Work? 46:45 Ads 48:41 How Does Buddhism Think About Victimhood and Trauma? 51:51 Breaking Free From Suffering 58:16 Can We Run Away From Our Pain? 1:04:49 How to Love Yourself When You Feel Broken 1:05:56 Coping With Grief and Loss 1:10:21 Focusing on the Pain in a Loving Way 1:13:17 The Practice of Forgiveness 1:20:16 Ads 1:22:12 Are We Living in a Culture of Fear? 1:25:06 How to Protect Yourself From Fear 1:27:13 The Gap Between Impulse and Action 1:28:13 Incorporating Meditation Into Your Daily Life 1:31:21 Live Meditation 1:38:21 How Can Meditation Change Your Life 1:41:39 Why Did Thubten Take Vows for Life? 1:42:26 Does Working on Your Mind Ever End? 1:43:15 The Gap Between Knowing and Doing 1:45:17 Is Meditation Retreat a Good Idea to Get Started? 1:45:54 Is Buddhism a Solution to the Current World Problems? 1:47:54 Question From the Previous Guest Follow Thubten:  Instagram - https://bit.ly/3FOxXlg  Website - https://bit.ly/45s6Zu0  Books - https://bit.ly/4ebqBF9  You can purchase Thubten's book, ‘Handbook for Hard Times: A Monk's Guide to Fearless Living', here: ⁠https://bit.ly/3ZDPwuU⁠  You can purchase Thubten's book, ‘A Monk's Guide to Happiness: Meditation in the 21st century', here: https://bit.ly/45xFE9O  The Diary Of A CEO: Join DOAC circle here -https://doaccircle.com/ The 1% Diary is back - limited time only: https://bit.ly/3YFbJbt The Diary Of A CEO Conversation Cards (Second Edition): https://g2ul0.app.link/f31dsUttKKb Get email updates - https://bit.ly/diary-of-a-ceo-yt Follow Steven - https://g2ul0.app.link/gnGqL4IsKKb Sponsors: Shopify - https://shopify.com/bartlett Vivobarefoot - https://vivobarefoot.com/DOAC with code DIARY20 for 20% off Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What is the role of the creative mystics in times of great change, confusion, and upheaval? How might deeply studying impermanence resource our hearts and spirit?Awakening of The Heart by Vietnamese Zen Buddhist monk Thich Nhat Hanh has been a guiding text for me. It's provided an endless stream of inspiration, encouragement, and illumination. Most notably, I'm finding strength from the lucid, gentle correction he offered in understanding the concept of impermanence. Its colloquial use often connotes a certain pessimism, an attitude of "What's the point of doing anything if everything passes anyway?"In this episode, I walk through Thich Nhat Hanh's writings on the subject, while also reflecting deeply through the lens of my path as an astrologer, a mystic, and an artist. I hope this serves and nourishes you.  Book your Human Design Foundational Attunement sessions with me. Across 2 sessions, you'll receive HD & energy work to support your deconditioning process and start living authentically.Join the waitlist for Mystics of The Wandering Stars, a 9-month immersion for rebirthing your inner mystic through the lens of the planets.For private mentorship and coaching, apply here.Try the incredible breathwork and meditation app Open for 30 days free using this special link. This podcast is hosted, produced, and edited by Jonathan Koe. Theme music is also composed by me! Connect with me through my newsletter, my Instagram @jonathankoeofficial, and my music. For podcast-related inquiries, email me at healingthespiritpodcast@gmail.com.

Our guest argues that looking back on those who came before us can help us understand who we are and why we do the things we do. Plus, a very special request from Dan. Spring Washam is a well-known teacher, author, and visionary leader based in Oakland, California. She is the author of A Fierce Heart: Finding Strength, Courage and Wisdom in Any Moment and her newest book, The Spirit of Harriet Tubman: Awakening from the Underground. Spring is considered a pioneer in bringing mindfulness-based meditation practices to diverse communities. She is one of the founding teachers at the East Bay Meditation Center, located in downtown Oakland, CA and has practiced and studied Buddhist philosophy in both the Theravada and Tibetan schools of Buddhism since 1999. In this episode we talk about: How Spring came to write about Harriet Tubman's life Her work with plant medicine and the shamanic tradition The dream and the “conversations” Spring had with Tubman Why we are all so interested in ancestry How we can deepen our relationship with our ancestors Family Constellation Therapy as a modality for doing ancestry work Spring's own family history Why she is still processing the experience of writing her book about Harriet Tubman What she means by the “inner underground railroad” and how it is alive today And, how, in the inner underground railroad, freedom equates to nirvana  Content Warning: mentions of suicide This episode originally aired in February 2023, and we're re-airing it today for two reasons: first, because it's awesome; and second, because Spring needs help.  A few months ago, Spring was hit by a delivery truck while crossing the street in Atlanta. She suffered extensive injuries and has been largely unable to work since then. As a result, she's been experiencing some financial distress between her mounting medical bills and her inability to be fully employed.  We've teamed up with the meditation teachers Jack Kornfield and Trudy Goodman to start a GoFundMe page to help Spring raise a little bit of money. Jack, Trudy and Dan have all contributed. If you can make a contribution, please do. No amount is too small.  You can find the GoFundMe here: https://www.gofundme.com/f/support-spring-washams-healing-journey   Related Episodes: The Dharma of Harriet Tubman | Spring Washam Spring Washam, ‘What Was Creating All This Suffering?' Everything You Wanted To Know About Meditation Retreats But Were Afraid To Ask | Spring Washam (And Dan's Close Friend, Zev Borow)   Join Dan's online community here Follow Dan on social: Instagram, TikTok Subscribe to our YouTube Channel To advertise on the show, contact sales@advertisecast.com or visit https://advertising.libsyn.com/10HappierwithDanHarris.  

06/21/2025, Chikudo Catherine Spaeth, dharma talk at Tassajara.

In this episode, Cortland Dahl and Daniel Aitken discuss Cortland's book A Meditator's Guide to Buddhism. As an author and translator, Cortland has published numerous scientific articles and works on Buddhist philosophy and meditation. He is actively involved in scientific research and has published articles on the impact of meditation practices on the body, mind, […] The post Cortland Dahl: A Meditator's Guide to Buddhism (#209) appeared first on The Wisdom Experience.

Cambridge anthropologist David Sneath is in Mongolia to find out how Buddhism continues to make a comeback after years of persecution under Communism. David tells the story of how a young Mongolian boy has recently been recognised as the new reincarnation in a lineage of major Buddhist leaders, once known in the country as ‘Holy Emperor'. The 10-year-old boy will, when formally enthroned, be considered the 10th Jebtsundamba Khutughtu in a lineage stretching back centuries. The Jebtsundamba Khutughtu (widely known to Mongolians as the “Bogd') is a leader of the Gelugpa School within the tradition of Tibetan Buddhism, and the young boy was officially recognised by the Dalai Lama, the exiled Tibetan religious leader. David meets the boy's mother, religious leaders and leading cultural figures to find out what is in store for the young Bogd. This episode of The Documentary, comes to you from Heart and Soul, exploring personal approaches to spirituality from around the world.

This summer, we're answering your questions about Buddhism and how to apply it to your life! For the next two weeks you can send us any questions you have about Buddhist practice or share a topic you'd like us to cover in an upcoming episode.How to submit your question:1. By voice: Send a voice message to our Instagram DMs @Buddhability or call us at (646) 580-8763. 2. By text: Instagram DM us @Buddhability or email us at connect@buddhability.org.Please send your question by July 4th, 2025. We may select an assortment of voice messages to share on an upcoming episode, so please submit that way only if you are comfortable having it shared on the podcast.

Unlock profound joy through the paradoxical wisdom of the Heart Sutra, one of Buddhism's most revered ancient texts.Join bestselling author Susan Piver as she shares over 30 years of insight into this enigmatic scripture's teachings on emptiness, impermanence, and the art of letting go - revealed through her powerful encounters like a 95-year-old calligraphy master. Hear how chanting the Heart Sutra and her book "Inexplicable Joy: On the Heart Sutra" can open you to an awakened presence amid life's ceaseless change.You can find Susan at: Website | Instagram | Episode TranscriptIf you LOVED this episode, you'll also love the conversations we had with Tara Brach about making peace with the truth about our lives.Check out our offerings & partners: Join My New Writing Project: Awake at the WheelVisit Our Sponsor Page For Great Resources & Discount Codes Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sharing deep spiritual secrets of love and attachment, Jack transforms our unhealthy attachments into Wise Relationships through vulnerability, inner joy, and shared humanity.Today's podcast is brought to you by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at betterhelp.com/heartwisdom and get on your way to being your best self.“The secret is, the opposite of attachment is not detachment, but love. Because true love does not seek to possess or control, it doesn't separate or fear what is there. True love is the ability to be present without grasping. From this place, love offers its blessings.” – Jack KornfieldIn this episode, Jack mindfully explores:Transforming unhealthy clingings into Wise AttachmentNot getting stuck in our ideas and views The global price of collective addiction and attachmentMoving past our attachment to our sense of separatenessThe big spiritual question—who are we really?His Holiness the Dalai Lama, and keeping a healthy curiosity around deathLowering our defenses and helping others lower their defenses around usParenting with trust and connection rather than clinging and controlThe good side of attachment—connection, well-being, mirroringTransforming low-self-esteem and the body of fear into self-confidence and opennessUsing spiritual practice to open to a love that includes our full humanityFinding the true possibilities that the spiritual path offersResting in our being—how not to seek and chase, and how not to run away and hideTouching our incompleteness, our brokenness, with compassionExpanding our heart and connecting with our shared humanityUncovering within us our inner knowing, The One Who KnowsHow to be true to yourself, and make a light of yourselfMeditation as an invitation into vulnerabilityMoving from unhealthy attachment into Wise RelationshipHow Being Here Now, our capacity to be present, transforms our lifeNirvana as the absence of struggle with the world as it asPlease help support Jack's daughter Caroline's Oasis Legal Services in their mission to help persecuted LGBTQ+ Asylum Seekers gain citizenship and safety in the U.S.“We want to be loved, we want to be held, and it's so hard to be vulnerable. Meditation is an invitation to that vulnerability, the rawness and openness of the heart. Not because it's good for us, but because it moves us back to the truth that we are held. If we can sit and open, we'll discover that this universe that has given birth to us really does hold us.” – Jack KornfieldThis episode recorded on 03/08/1993 at Spirit Rock Meditation Center was originally published on DharmaSeed. “Nirvana, which is the absence of suffering, doesn't mean that the world goes away. Nirvana is the absence of struggle with the world as it is.” – Jack KornfieldAbout Jack Kornfield:Jack Kornfield trained as a Buddhist monk in the monasteries of Thailand, India, and Burma, studying as a monk under the Buddhist master Ven. Ajahn Chah, as well as the Ven. Mahasi Sayadaw. He has taught meditation internationally since 1974 and is one of the key teachers to introduce Buddhist mindfulness practice to the West. Jack co-founded the Insight Meditation Society in Barre, Massachusetts, with fellow meditation teachers Sharon Salzberg and Joseph Goldstein and the Spirit Rock Center in Woodacre, California. His books have been translated into 20 languages and sold more than a million copies.Jack is currently offering a wonderful array of transformational online courses diving into crucial topics like Mindfulness Meditation Fundamentals, Walking the Eightfold Path, Opening the Heart of Forgiveness, Living Beautifully, Transforming Your Life Through Powerful Stories, and so much more. Sign up for an All Access Pass to explore Jack's entire course library. If you would like a year's worth of online meetups with Jack and fellow community, join The Year of Awakening: A Monthly Journey with Jack Kornfield.Stay up to date with Jack and his stream of fresh dharma offerings by visiting JackKornfield.com and signing up for his email teachings.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In this episode, we continue our exploration of the Eightfold Path by diving into the second aspect of wisdom—Right Intention. We explore how intention functions like a compass, helping us navigate life with purpose and clarity. Rather than reacting habitually, Right Intention invites us to respond skillfully to whatever arises. We discuss the three core intentions highlighted in Buddhist teachings: letting go (renunciation), wishing well (goodwill), and doing no harm (harmlessness). With everyday examples and practical insights, this episode is a reminder that intention shapes the seeds we plant with every word and action—and that we always have the power to begin again in any moment. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.