The Wisdom Podcast: Recent Episodes
The Wisdom Podcast
In this insightful episode of the Wisdom Podcast, recorded live as a Wisdom Dharma Chat, special guest, Tenzin Wangyal Rinpoche, joins host Daniel Aitken. As a distinguished teacher and meditation master in the Bön tradition of Tibet, Rinpoche offers profound insight into the application and practice of dream yoga.
During this conversation, Rinpoche and Daniel explore:
- Rinpoche’s teachers, and how he began to practice dream yoga;
- how this practice can bring greater clarity to your waking life and facilitate spiritual growth;
- the importance of sleep; and
- so much more!
Listeners are invited to join Rinpoche’s Wisdom Academy online course, Dream Yoga, and save $80 off Dream Yoga with code WPODDY before enrollment closes on Friday, September 13 at 5 pm EDT.
Mentioned in this episode:
Oura Ring – https://ouraring.com/product/rings
Whoop Band – Sleep Tracker – https://www.whoop.com/us/en/
Remember to subscribe to the Wisdom Podcast for more great conversations on Buddhism, meditation, and mindfulness. And please give us a 5-star rating in Apple Podcasts if you enjoy our show—it’s a great support to us and helps other people find the podcast. Thank you!
The post Tenzin Wangyal Rinpoche: Dream Yoga (#193) appeared first on The Wisdom Experience.
This episode of the Wisdom Podcast, recorded live as a Wisdom Dharma Chat features special guest, H. E. Khangser Rinpoche. At the age of five, H.E. Khangser Rinpoche was recognized as the eighth reincarnation of Khangser Rinpoche. By 2005, he had earned both the Geshe Lharampa degree and a doctorate in tantra, both with the highest honors in the top division. In 2023, Rinpoche came in line to one day become the Gaden Tripa, the supreme head of the Gelug lineage, which is considered the largest school in Tibetan Buddhism.
In this episode, host Daniel Aitken and Rinpoche discuss:
- his book A Monk’s Guide to Finding Joy;
- the importance of creating happiness from within;
- healthy versus unhealthy desires;
- the value of self-reliance while avoiding the pitfalls of pride; and
- much more!
Wisdom Podcast listeners are invited to save 20% off A Monk’s Guide to Finding Joy with code WPOD2JOY through the end of August.
Remember to subscribe to the Wisdom Podcast for more great conversations on Buddhism, meditation, and mindfulness. And please give us a 5-star rating in Apple Podcasts if you enjoy our show—it’s a great support to us and helps other people find the podcast. Thank you!
The post H. E. Khangser Rinpoche: A Monk’s Guide to Finding Joy (#192) appeared first on The Wisdom Experience.
This episode of the Wisdom Podcast, recorded live as a Wisdom Dharma Chat features special guest, Thupten Jinpa. Since 1985, Jinpa has been the principal translator to the Dalai Lama, accompanying him to the United States, Canada, and Europe. He is an accomplished author and translator. His Wisdom Publications credits include the Science and Philosophy in the Indian Buddhist Classics series, multiple titles in The Library of Tibetan Classics series, the Wisdom Academy courses Tsongkhapa’s Madhyamaka, How The Mind Works, and much more.
In this episode host Daniel Aitken and Jinpa discuss:
- his upcoming Wisdom Academy course Mind Training and the related book;
- the benefits of lojong and how he uses it in his daily life;
- the power of mantra;
- how to take a proactive stance with your emotions and self-awareness; and
- much more!
Wisdom Podcast listeners are invited to save $100 off Mind Training with code WPODMIND. Additionally, listeners can save 40% on Jinpa’s previous Wisdom Academy courses, Tsongkhapa’s Madhyamaka and How the Mind Works with code WPODJINPA through August 12.
Remember to subscribe to the Wisdom Podcast for more great conversations on Buddhism, meditation, and mindfulness. And please give us a 5-star rating in Apple Podcasts if you enjoy our show—it’s a great support to us and helps other people find the podcast. Thank you!
The post Thupten Jinpa: Mind Training (#191) appeared first on The Wisdom Experience.
This special rerelease episode of the Wisdom Podcast features Jeffrey Hopkins. Jeffrey started meditating while at Harvard and then, inspired by Thoreau and W. Somerset Maugham, spent time in a cabin in the woods in Vermont. He was Professor Emeritus of Tibetan Buddhist Studies at the University of Virginia, where he taught Tibetan Studies and Tibetan language for more than thirty years. He received a BA magna cum laude from Harvard University in 1963, trained for five years at the Lamaist Buddhist Monastery of America (now the Tibetan Buddhist Learning Center) in New Jersey, and received a PhD in Buddhist Studies from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 1973. From 1979 to 1989 he served as His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s chief interpreter into English on lecture tours in the U.S., Canada, Southeast Asia, Great Britain, and Switzerland. He has published numerous books, including Meditation on Emptiness, a seminal work of English language scholarship on Tibetan Madhyamaka thought, as well as translations of works by Tsongkhapa, Dolpopa, and His Holiness the Fourteenth Dalai Lama. At the University of Virginia, he founded programs in Buddhist Studies and Tibetan Studies and served as Director of the Center for South Asian Studies for twelve years. Sadly, Jeffrey Hopkins passed away on July 1, 2024, at the age of 83. Prior to his passing, Jeffery was working with Wisdom to deliver an updated edition of Meditation on Emptiness with new forwards from His Holiness the Dalai Lama and Donald Lopez Jr. This edition is scheduled for release in 2025 and is available for preorder now.
“Throughout the course of his remarkable career, Prof. Hopkins translated over fifty books, and it was an especially great honor for Wisdom to publish his groundbreaking book Meditation on Emptiness back in 1983. In addition to his extensive body of written work, he was also a mentor to a generation of Tibetan Buddhist scholars. His legacy thus lives on not only through his many books but also through countless students worldwide. We join the Buddhist community of scholars and practitioners who are reflecting on Prof. Hopkins’ life and work with both deep regret for this great loss and immense gratitude for his invaluable contributions. Wisdom celebrates Jeffrey‘s amazing contributions, certainly to our own success, but even more so to the spiritual development of the human community. He will be dearly missed and not soon forgotten.” —Daniel Aitken, Wisdom Publications CEO and Publisher
In this episode, Daniel and Jeffrey discuss:
- his process for developing various meditative practices without any formal knowledge of Buddhism;
- his experience with Geshe Wangyal and Geshe Sopa in Madison, Wisconsin, and how these two great teachers inspired him to begin delving into the intellectual exercise of Buddhist philosophy and guided him in his study and practice;
- how he began translating for the Dalai Lama, and how working with the Dalai Lama influenced Jeffrey’s thinking and translation;
- his thoughts on emptiness and the challenging experience and practice of having Lyme Disease; and
- much more!
Mentioned in this episode:
- Uma Institute for Tibetan Studies
In memory of the mark Jeffery left on the Buddhist community, Wisdom Podcast listeners are invited to receive 30% off any of Jeffery Hopkin’s works with Wisdom, including the upcoming release of Meditation on Emptiness, through August 10. Simply use code WPODHOPKINS at checkout.
Remember to subscribe to the Wisdom Podcast for more great conversations on Buddhism, meditation, and mindfulness. And please give us a 5-star rating in Apple Podcasts if you enjoy our show—it’s a great support to us and it helps other people find the podcast. Thank you!
The post Jeffrey Hopkins: In Remembrance: The Life of a Buddhist Scholar (#190) appeared first on The Wisdom Experience.
This episode of the Wisdom Podcast features Dr. Joanne Cacciatore. Dr. Jo has a deep relationship with grief and bereavement. She is herself a bereaved mother: her newborn daughter died on July 27, 1994, and that single tragic moment catapulted her unwillingly onto the reluctant path of traumatic grief. For more than two decades, she’s devoted herself to direct practice with grief, helping traumatically bereaved people on six continents. She’s also been researching and writing about grief as a professor at Arizona State University and director of the Graduate Certificate in Trauma and Bereavement program there. She is the founder of an international nongovernmental organization, the MISS Foundation, dedicated to providing multiple forms of support to families experiencing the death of a child at any age and from any cause, and since 1996 has directed the foundation’s family services and clinical education programs. Additionally, she is the founder of the Selah Carefarm, which was featured on Oprah Winfrey and Prince Harry’s Apple TV docuseries, The Me You Can’t See. Her work has been featured in major media sources such as People and Newsweek magazines, the New York Times, the Boston Globe, CNN, National Public Radio, and the Los Angeles Times. She is the author of the award-winning best-seller Bearing the Unbearable.
In this episode, host Daniel Aitken and Dr. Jo discuss:
- her bestselling book Bearing the Unbearable and the new companion journal;
- the process and benefits of journaling;
- the benefits of meditation and self-care;
- her work with the Selah Carefarm and the benefits we can learn from animals;
- the impact grief plays in our lives; and
- much more!
Additional Content:
- Read up on the double-blind experiment mentioned in the episode
- Learn more about the Selah House care-farm at https://www.missfoundation.org/selah-carefarm/
- Follow Dr. Joanne Cacciatore’s current work on her website and on Facebook.
Wisdom Podcast listeners are invited to receive 20% off any of Dr. Jo’s resources through July 15. Visit wisdomexperience.org/drjo and use code WPODBUB at checkout
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.
Remember to subscribe to the Wisdom Podcast for more great conversations on Buddhism, meditation, and mindfulness. And please give us a 5-star rating in Apple Podcasts if you enjoy our show—it’s a great support to us and it helps other people find the podcast. Thank you!
The post Dr. Joanne Cacciatore: Embracing Grief: Meditation, Journaling, and Self-Reflection (#189) appeared first on The Wisdom Experience.
This episode of the Wisdom Podcast features H. E. Khangser Rinpoche. At the age of five, H. E. Khangser Rinpoche was recognized as the eighth reincarnation of Khangser Rinpoche. By 2005, he had earned both the Geshe Lharampa degree and a doctorate in tantra, both with the highest honors in the top division. Rinpoche is a great scholar who has achieved mastery in both the Gelug and Nyingma Buddhist traditions. In 2023, Rinpoche came in line to one day become the Gaden Tripa, the supreme head of the Gelug lineage, which is considered the largest school in Tibetan Buddhism.
In this episode, host Daniel Aitken and Rinpoche discuss:
- his book A Monk’s Guide to Finding Joy;
- the seventh Khangser Rinpoche and the search for the Dalai Lama;
- becoming a recognized Tulku and the importance of past life memories;
- the importance of debate and reasoning in Buddhist philosophy; and
- much more!
Be sure to keep up with Rinpoche’s work and events:
- Facebook and Instagram @KhangserRinpocheOfficial
- via website: us.dipkar.com
- email: us@dipkar.com
Remember to subscribe to the Wisdom Podcast for more great conversations on Buddhism, meditation, and mindfulness. And please give us a 5-star rating in Apple Podcasts if you enjoy our show—it’s a great support to us and it helps other people find the podcast. Thank you!
The post H. E. Khangser Rinpoche: Rebirth, Meditation, and the Path to Joy (#188) appeared first on The Wisdom Experience.
This episode of the Wisdom Podcast, recorded live as a Wisdom Dharma Chat features special guest, Klaus-Dieter Mathes and Péter-Dániel Szántó. Klaus-Dieter Mathes earned his doctorate at Marburg University, and is a Professor of Buddhist Studies at the University of Hong Kong. He previously worked as a research fellow and lecturer at the Asia Africa Institute at the University of Hamburg, Germany, and as a Professor of Tibetology and Buddhist Studies at the University of Vienna, Austria. His research in progress deals with the Indian origins of Tibetan Mahāmudrā traditions. Péter-Dániel Szántó started his studies at ELTE Budapest. He read for a DPhil in Oxford, where he also held two junior research fellowships. He is currently an associate professor at ELTE Budapest, where he is also head of the Department of Tibetan and Buddhist Studies. His main research areas include esoteric Buddhism, Mahāyāna Buddhism, Sanskrit belles-lettres, and medieval South Asian history.
In this episode host, Daniel Aitken, and our guests discuss:
- the latest volume in the Studies in Indian and Tibetan Buddhism series, Saraha’s Spontaneous Songs;
- the language of Saraha’s songs, Apabhraṃśa and spontaneity;
- the structure and role of commentaries in understanding the text;
- the importance of meditation and its relation to Sahaja;
- and much more!
Saraha’s Spontaneous Songsis available now. Listeners of the Wisdom Podcast are invited to receive $14.95 off their hardcover purchase. Use code WPODSSS at checkout. Offer valid until the end of June.
Remember to subscribe to the Wisdom Podcast for more great conversations on Buddhism, meditation, and mindfulness. And please give us a 5-star rating in Apple Podcasts if you enjoy our show—it’s a great support to us and it helps other people find the podcast. Thank you!
The post Klaus-Dieter Mathes and Péter-Dániel Szántó: Saraha’s Spontaneous Songs (#187) appeared first on The Wisdom Experience.
This episode of the Wisdom Podcast, recorded live as a Wisdom Dharma Chat features special guest, H. E. Kalu Rinpoche. Rinpoche is the Lineage Holder of Shangpa Kagyu. He was born in 1990 and recognized by H. H. the Dalai Lama and H. H. the 12th Chamgon Kenting Tai Situpa. Kalu Rinpoche completed the traditional three-year retreat between January 2004 and September 2008. After graduating he traveled, gaining experience in the modern world, before returning to Sonada to give the full Shangpa transmission. Rinpoche continues to connect traditional Shangpa Kagyü teaching to a modern, digital world. His work makes these teachings accessible, ensuring they will remain available for generations to come.
In this episode host Daniel Aitken and Rinpoche discuss:
- his current Wisdom Academy course The Illusory Body and Mind;
- his upcoming Wisdom Academy course Niguma’s Dream Yoga;
- the subtle body;
- his books;
- and much more!
Mentioned in this episode:
- Rinpoche’s last Wisdom Dharma Chat with a live yoga demonstration
- Four Tibetan Lineages translated by Sarah Harding
- Luminous Mind by Kyabje Kalu Rinpoche
- Shangpa Kagyu: The Tradition of Khyungpo Naljor, Part One by Jamgon Kongtrul Lodro Taye, translated by Sarah Harding
- Shangpa Kagyu: The Tradition Of Khyungpo Naljor, Part Two by Jamgon Kongtrul Lodro Taye, translated by Sarah Harding
The Illusory Body and Mind is available now. Listeners of the Wisdom Podcast who enroll in The Illusory Body and Mind can save $50 when they purchase Niguma’s Dream Yoga as well. Simply add Illusory Body and Mind to your cart, and use code WPODNDY at checkout. Niguma’s Dream Yoga will automatically be added to your cart at the discounted price. Offer valid until June 17.
Remember to subscribe to the Wisdom Podcast for more great conversations on Buddhism, meditation, and mindfulness. And please give us a 5-star rating in Apple Podcasts if you enjoy our show—it’s a great support to us and it helps other people find the podcast. Thank you!
The post H. E. Kalu Rinpoche: Illusory Body and Mind (#186) appeared first on The Wisdom Experience.
This episode of the Wisdom Podcast features Tim Olmsted. Tim is the founder and president of the Pema Chödrön Foundation and former director of Gampo Abbey. He began his Buddhist studies in 1977 under the late Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche in Boulder, Colorado. In 1981, after being moved by a visit from Tulku Urgyen Rinpoche, Tim and his family moved to Kathmandu to study with Tulku Urgyen and his sons. For 12 years, Tim lived in Nepal, working as a psychotherapist serving the international community. In 2000, he moved to Nova Scotia where he served for three years as the director of Gampo Abbey, the largest residential Buddhist monastery in North America. He spends much of his time traveling internationally, teaching meditation in his role as a senior instructor for Tergar International, a worldwide meditation community under the guidance of Tibetan meditation teacher, Yongey Mingyur Rinpoche.
In this episode host, Daniel Aitken, and Tim discuss:
- His journey into the Dharma, including his life in Nepal and his time spent with Tulku Urgyen Rinpoche and his son;
- Perfect devotion vs the guru complex;
- The significance of community;
- and much more!
Mentioned in this episode:
- Blazing Splendor: The Memoirs of the Dzogchen Yogi Tulku Urgyen Rinpoche
- Tergar.org
- Vajrayana Online
- The Joy of Living an online meditation course and training with Yongey Mingyur Rinpoche
Remember to subscribe to the Wisdom Podcast for more great conversations on Buddhism, meditation, and mindfulness. And please give us a 5-star rating in Apple Podcasts if you enjoy our show—it’s a great support to us and helps other people find the podcast. Thank you!
The post Tim Olmsted: Spontaneous Teachers, Spontaneous Student (#185) appeared first on The Wisdom Experience.
This episode of the Wisdom Podcast features Cortland Dahl. Cortland is a scientist, translator, and meditation teacher who offers workshops and leads retreats around the world. He has practiced meditation for nearly three decades, spent time on retreat in monasteries and at retreat centers throughout Japan, Burma, and India, and spent eight years living in Tibetan refugee settlements in Kathmandu, Nepal. He works as an Instructor for the Tergar community and is the Executive Director of Tergar International. In addition, Cortland serves as a Research Scientist and the Chief Contemplative Officer at UW-Madison’s Center for Healthy Minds and the center’s affiliated non-profit, Healthy Minds Innovations. Cortland is actively involved in scientific research and has published articles on the impact of meditation practices on the body, mind, and brain.
In this episode host, Daniel Aitken, and Cortland discuss:
- the Healthy Minds App and Cortland’s role in its development;
- the intersection of science and spirituality;
- living the Dharma in daily life;
- using technology for mindfulness; and
- much more!
Mentioned in this episode:
- Cortland’s Wisdom Dharma Chats episode;
- Vajrayana Online;
- The Joy of Living an online meditation course and training with Yongey Mingyur Rinpoche.
Remember to subscribe to the Wisdom Podcast for more great conversations on Buddhism, meditation, and mindfulness. And please give us a 5-star rating in Apple Podcasts if you enjoy our show—it’s a great support to us and helps other people find the podcast. Thank you!
The post Cortland Dahl: Mahamudra and Daily Life (#184) appeared first on The Wisdom Experience.
This episode of the Wisdom Podcast, recorded live as a Wisdom Dharma Chat features special guest, Yongey Mingyur Rinpoche. Born in the Himalayan border regions between Tibet and Nepal, Yongey Mingyur Rinpoche is a rising star among the new generation of Tibetan Buddhist teachers. His candid, often humorous accounts of his personal difficulties have endeared him to audiences around the world.
During this Wisdom Dharma Chat host, Daniel Aitken, and Yongey Mingyur Rinpoche discuss:
- Dorje Drolö, a Buddhist practice meant specifically for use during difficult times in human history;
- Rinpoche’s upcoming teachings in Nepal this June;
- the imaginative power of the mind;
- wrathful deities; and
- much more!
Remember to subscribe to the Wisdom Podcast for more great conversations on Buddhism, meditation, and mindfulness. And please give us a 5-star rating in Apple Podcasts if you enjoy our show—it’s a great support to us and helps other people find the podcast. Thank you!
The post Yongey Mingyur Rinpoche: Dorje Drolö and the Power of the Mind (#183) appeared first on The Wisdom Experience.
This episode of the Wisdom Podcast, recorded live as a Wisdom Dharma Chat features special guest, Peter Skilling. Peter is a special lecturer at Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, and an honorary associate, Department of Indian Sub-Continental Studies, University of Sydney, Australia. Until his retirement in 2017, he was a professor of the French School of Asian Studies (EFEO) based in Bangkok. He is an honorary member of the Siam Society, Bangkok, and in 2017 he was elected an honorary fellow of the Asiatic Society of Mumbai. He has published widely on the Buddhist literature, history, and epigraphy of South and Southeast Asia. In this Wisdom Dharma Chat host Daniel Aitken and Peter discuss Peter’s new anthology, Buddha’s Words for Tough Times, and more.
During this episode, Daniel and Peter discuss:
- Peter’s newest release Buddha’s Words for Tough Times;
- his inspiration for writing the book;
- the important roll images play for us as readers;
- heedfulness (appamāda) and its relation to mindfulness;
- how the Buddha’s words remain relevant in today’s climate; and
- much more!
Images discussed in this episode:
- Four apramāda seals: Apramāda seal from Lower Burma, Mandeville collection. Apramāda seals from India, Cunningham collection at the British Library. Page 242.
- Frontispiece: Photo by Birmingham Museums Trust, licensed under CC0. Page ii
- Frontispiece Buddha after excavation in Sultanganj in 1862 and, on the right, E. B. Harris with some of the Sultanganj images. Source: Harris, Description of Buddhist Remains Discovered at Sooltangunge. See also figures 9 and 11. Page v.
- Image of the Buddha teaching, with etching of a stūpa in outline on reverse. Seventh century, Bihar. Height, 33 cm. British Museum (acc. no. 1854,0214.1). For the text of the inscription, see appendix 2, figure 54. Pages 25–26.
Remember to subscribe to the Wisdom Podcast for more great conversations on Buddhism, meditation, and mindfulness. And please give us a 5-star rating in Apple Podcasts if you enjoy our show—it’s a great support to us and helps other people find the podcast. Thank you!
The post Peter Skilling: Buddha’s Words for Tough Times (#182) appeared first on The Wisdom Experience.
To our valued listeners, an unfortunate outcome of live events is that you only get one take to get things right, technical difficulties can and do happen and as a result, the audio recording in this podcast fails to meet the Wisdom standard. However, we wish for all of our supporters to be able to enjoy the wonderful content included in this conversation. Please be advised some poems have been replaced with an updated recording, to enhance the listening experience.
This episode of the Wisdom Podcast, recorded live as a Wisdom Dharma Chat features special guest John Brehm. John is the author of several books of poems, The Poetry of Impermanence, Mindfulness, and Joy and The Dharma of Poetry, Sea of Faith, Help Is On the Way, and No Day at the Beach. He is the associate editor of The Oxford Book of American Poetry and his poems have appeared in Poetry, The Southern Review, New Ohio Review, The Sun, The Gettysburg Review, Gulf Coast, The Writer’s Almanac, The Norton Introduction to Literature, Best American Poetry, and many other journals and anthologies. He lives in Portland, Oregon, and teaches for Literary Arts and Mountain Writers Series in Portland and for the Lighthouse Writers Workshop in Denver, Colorado.
In this episode, host Daniel Aitken and John discuss:
- John’s process for writing poetry;
- The art of appreciative reading and how to incorporate this in your practice;
- John selects poems from his newest collection, Dharma Talk, to read and guides us through reflecting on them; and
- much more!
Remember to subscribe to the Wisdom Podcast for more great conversations on Buddhism, meditation, and mindfulness. And please give us a 5-star rating in Apple Podcasts if you enjoy our show—it’s a great support to us and helps other people find the podcast. Thank you!
The post John Brehm: Dharma Talk (#181) appeared first on The Wisdom Experience.
This episode of the Wisdom Podcast, recorded live as a Wisdom Dharma Chat features special guest, Thupten Jinpa. Jinpa-la was educated in the classical Tibetan monastic academia and received the highest academic degree of Geshe Lharam (equivalent to a doctorate in divinity). He also holds a BA in philosophy and a PhD in religious studies, both from the University of Cambridge, England. Since 1985, he has been the principal translator to the Dalai Lama, accompanying him to the United States, Canada, and Europe. Jinpa-la is currently the president and the editor-in-chief of the Institute of Tibetan Classics, a nonprofit educational organization dedicated to translating key Tibetan classics into contemporary languages. He also currently chairs the Mind and Life Institute and the Compassion Institute.
During this episode host, Daniel Aitken, and Jinpa-la discuss:
- his latest translation work in the Library of Tibetan Classics series, Stages of the Path and the Oral Transmission;
- how he chose to structure Stages of the Path and the Oral Transmission;
- the evolution of modern Western language and its impact on translation;
- the list of 51 mental factors and the commonly misunderstood factors;
- his Wisdom Academy course, How the Mind Works;
- how to raise joy in your daily life; and
- much more!
Remember to subscribe to the Wisdom Podcast for more great conversations on Buddhism, meditation, and mindfulness. And please give us a 5-star rating in Apple Podcasts if you enjoy our show—it’s a great support to us and helps other people find the podcast. Thank you!
The post Thupten Jinpa: Stages of the Path (#180) appeared first on The Wisdom Experience.
This episode of the Wisdom Podcast, recorded live as a Wisdom Dharma Chat, features special guest, Venerable Bhikkhu Bodhi. Ven. Bhikkhu Bodhi is an American Buddhist monk from New York City. After completing his university studies he traveled to Sri Lanka, where he received novice ordination in 1972 and full ordination in 1973, both under the leading Sri Lankan scholar-monk, Ven. Balangoda Ananda Maitreya. Ven. Bhikkhu Bodhi has many important publications to his credit, either as an author, translator, or editor. These include The Middle Length Discourses of the Buddha, The Connected Discourses of the Buddha, and The Numerical Discourses of the Buddha. In 2008, together with several of his students, Ven. Bhikkhu Bodhi founded Buddhist Global Relief, a nonprofit supporting hunger relief, sustainable agriculture, and education in countries suffering from chronic poverty and malnutrition.
During this episode host, Daniel Aitken, and Ven. Bhikkhu Bodhi discuss:
- his most recent anthology from the Pāli canon, Noble Truths, Noble Path, now available in hardcover and paperback;
- the Teachings of the Buddha series;
- understanding the Buddha’s teachings and the logic behind the arrangement of the suttas within the nikāyas;
- misunderstanding of dependent origination;
- nibbana, and how the Buddha categorized nibbana; and
- much more!
Episode Notes:
- The other volume discussed at the start of the episode is *Reading the Buddha’s Discourses in Pāli***.
- When Ven. Bhikkhu Bodhi mentions a previous anthology, he is referring to *In the Buddha’s Words***.
- Ven. Bhikkhu Bodhi’s final recommendation for the order to read these works that he outlines at the end of the episode is
- *In the Buddha’s Words2. Noble Truths, Noble Path3. The Middle Length Discourses of the Buddha and he mentions his audio teachings in connection to this which can be found here.***
Remember to subscribe to the Wisdom Podcast for more great conversations on Buddhism, meditation, and mindfulness. And please give us a 5-star rating in Apple Podcasts if you enjoy our show—it’s a great support to us and helps other people find the podcast. Thank you!
The post Venerable Bhikkhu Bodhi: Noble Truths, Noble Path (#179) appeared first on The Wisdom Experience.
This episode of the Wisdom Podcast features Dr. Richard J. Davidson. Richard is the William James and Vilas Research Professor of Psychology and Psychiatry, founder of the Center for Healthy Minds, and director of the Waisman Laboratory for Brain Imaging and Behavior at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He is best known for his groundbreaking work studying emotion and the brain. In 2006 Time Magazine named Davidson one of “The 100 Most Influential People in the World.” He is also co-author with Daniel Goleman of Altered Traits: Science Reveals How Meditation Changes Your Mind, Brain, and Body.
In this episode, host Daniel Aitken, and Richard discuss:
- his lab tests with Yongey Mingyur Rinpoche on the effects of meditation;
- technology’s advancements with the ability to find correlates;
- brain waves associated with flow states;
- meta-awareness; and
- much more!
If you enjoy the episode, check out Richard’s course, The Science of Flourishing, presented by Healthy Minds Innovations. The Science of Flourishing is an online, self-paced course designed to help you understand the skills of well-being, the science behind them, and how to apply those skills in your daily life. Fans of the Wisdom Podcast receive a 20% discount with code TWE20 when used before December 31, 2023.
Remember to subscribe to the Wisdom Podcast for more great conversations on Buddhism, meditation, and mindfulness. And please give us a 5-star rating in Apple Podcasts if you enjoy our show—it’s a great support to us and helps other people find the podcast. Thank you!
The post Dr. Richard J. Davidson: Meditation and the Effects on the Brain (#178) appeared first on The Wisdom Experience.
This episode of the Wisdom Podcast features Geoffrey Barstow. Geoff is an assistant professor of Philosophy and Religion at Oregon State University. He has been a student of Choky Nyima Rinpoche for more than 20 years and he spent over six years conducting research in Nepal, China, and Tibet. His studies focused on animal ethics, the relationship between humans and animals, and what that can teach us about Tibetan Buddhism. In this episode, Daniel and Geoff discuss vegetarianism in Tibetan Buddhism, as well as, a common topic of debate in Buddhist circles, should all Buddhists be vegetarian?
Additionally, they also discuss:
- Geoff’s book The Faults of Meat;
- the origins of Geoff’s interest in Tibet and Tibetan Buddhism;
- vegetarianism and its relation to the threefold purity; and
- much more!
Remember to subscribe to the Wisdom Podcast for more great conversations on Buddhism, meditation, and mindfulness. And please give us a 5-star rating in Apple Podcasts if you enjoy our show—it’s a great support to us and helps other people find the podcast. Thank you!
The post Geoffrey Barstow: Was the Buddha Vegetarian? (#177) appeared first on The Wisdom Experience.
This episode of the Wisdom Podcast, recorded live as a Wisdom Dharma Chat features special guest, Alejandro Chaoul. During this episode, host Daniel Aitken and Alejandro discuss the practice of Tibetan yoga, (trul khor, “magical movement”). Alejandro provides demonstrations of some of the movements and guides the listener through how to practice them as well. Alejandro and Daniel also discuss:
- pervasive breath (khyab lung) and movements that work with it;
- the five winds;
- Alejandro’s upcoming Wisdom Academy course, Tibetan Yoga, Part 2;
- and much more.
Alejandro provides detailed descriptions and instructions for the movements he demonstrates during this episode. If you would like to see the movements as well you can watch the recording of the live event on our website here.
Remember to subscribe to the Wisdom Podcast for more great conversations on Buddhism, meditation, and mindfulness. And please give us a 5-star rating in Apple Podcasts if you enjoy our show—it’s a great support to us and helps other people find the podcast. Thank you!
The post Alejandro Chaoul: Trul Khor (#176) appeared first on The Wisdom Experience.
This episode of the Wisdom Podcast features an interview with Charles Manson. Charles is a master woodcarver and author who spent several years as a Buddhist monk and in meditation retreats. He holds a master’s in theological studies from Harvard University and works as a librarian for the Tibetan Collections at the Bodleian Library at Oxford University and at the British Library in London.
In this episode, Charles and host Daniel Aitken discuss:
- his book The Second Karmapa Karma Pakshi;
- his eight-year retreat;
- Karma Pakshi’s impact on Möngke Khan court;
- Kublai Khan’s capture and exile of Karma Pakshi;
- lungsem breathing meditation practice;
- and more!
Items mentioned in this podcast:
– Early 14th-Century Portrait of Karma Pakshi
– 16th Karmapa in the Karma Pakshi pose at Tsurpu Pre-1959
– Karma Pakshi Travel Map
– Om Ma-Ni Pe-Me Hung Sheet music
– Om Ma-Ni Pe-Me Hung Recording of Nick Perry playing medieval shawm
– Charles during retreat at Karma Pakshi cave
Remember to subscribe to the Wisdom Podcast for more great conversations on Buddhism, meditation, and mindfulness. And please give us a 5-star rating in Apple Podcasts if you enjoy our show—it’s a great support to us and helps other people find the podcast. Thank you!
The post Charles Manson: The Second Karmapa (#175) appeared first on The Wisdom Experience.
This episode of the Wisdom Podcast was recorded live as a Wisdom Dharma Chat with special guest, Anne C. Klein. Anne is a professor and former chair of the religion department at Rice University. She is also a lama in the Nyingma tradition and a founding director and resident teacher of Dawn Mountain, a center for contemplative study and practice in Houston. Her publications include Path to the Middle, Unbounded Wholeness (coauthored with Geshe Tenzin Wangyal Rinpoche), Knowledge and Liberation, Strand of Jewels, and Being Human and a Buddha Too (Wisdom, 2023).
During this episode, host Daniel Aitken and Anne discuss:
- her Wisdom Academy course Longchenpa’s Sevenfold Mind Training;
- her book, Being Human and a Buddha Too, which the course is based on;
- the relationship between lojong and dzogchen generally, and specifically within this text;
- Adzom Paylo Rinpoche’s and Jigme Lingpa’s commentaries on this texts;
- the metaphor of the sunlit sky;
- and more!
Remember to subscribe to the Wisdom Podcast for more great conversations on Buddhism, meditation, and mindfulness. And please give us a 5-star rating in Apple Podcasts if you enjoy our show—it’s a great support to us and helps other people find the podcast. Thank you!
The post Anne C. Klein: Being Human and a Buddha Too (#174) appeared first on The Wisdom Experience.
This episode of the Wisdom Podcast, recorded live as a Wisdom Dharma Chat, features special guest, Sangye Khandro**. During this episode host Daniel Aitken and Sangye discuss Venerable Dhomang Gyatrul Rinpoche’s passing into parinirvana earlier this year, her root teacher, Kyabje Dudjom Rinpoche, with whom she studied and practiced for many years, and her work as a translator.
Sangye and Daniel also discuss:
- how Sangye met Venerable Dhomang Gyatrul Rinpoche;
- Rinpoche’s visions of the Karmapa while he was sick;
- Rinpoche’s extended tukdam;
- Rinpoche’s sea burial;
- and more!
Below are a series of links to various videos of Rinpoche’s sea burial.
- Orgyen Dorje Den, sea burial video
- Orgyen Dorje Den, drone video
- Vimala
Remember to subscribe to the Wisdom Podcast for more great conversations on Buddhism, meditation, and mindfulness. And please give us a 5-star rating in Apple Podcasts if you enjoy our show—it’s a great support to us and helps other people find the podcast. Thank you!
The post Sangye Khandro: The Parinirvana of Venerable Dhomang Gyatrul Rinpoche (#173) appeared first on The Wisdom Experience.
This episode of the Wisdom Podcast, recorded live as a Wisdom Dharma Chat features special guest Jay Garfield. Jay Garfield is Doris Silbert Professor in the Humanities, Professor of Philosophy and Director of the Logic Program and of the Five College Tibetan Studies in India Program at Smith College, Professor in the graduate faculty of Philosophy at the University of Massachusetts, Professor of Philosophy at Melbourne University and Adjunct Professor of Philosophy at the Central Institute of Higher Tibetan Studies. He teaches and pursues research in the philosophy of mind, foundations of cognitive science, logic, philosophy of language, Buddhist philosophy, cross-cultural hermeneutics, theoretical and applied ethics, and epistemology.
During this episode, host Daniel Aitken and Jay discuss:
- Jay’s recent book, Losing Ourselves, and the concept of self;
- cognitive illusions and thought experiments;
- Jay’s online courses with Wisdom Academy;
- and much more.
Remember to subscribe to the Wisdom Podcast for more great conversations on Buddhism, meditation, and mindfulness. And please give us a 5-star rating in Apple Podcasts if you enjoy our show—it’s a great support to us and helps other people find the podcast. Thank you!
The post Jay Garfield: Buddhist Philosophy In-Depth (#172) appeared first on The Wisdom Experience.
This episode of the Wisdom Podcast, recorded live as a Wisdom Dharma Chat features Geshe Tenzin Namdak. Geshe Namdak first worked as an environmental researcher, having graduated with a bachelor of science degree in hydrology. He took ordination from His Holiness the Dalai Lama before engaging in his formal studies in Buddhist philosophy and psychology at Sera Jey Monastic University. He completed the entire twenty-year geshe program at Sera Jey and the traditional one-year Vajrayāna study program at Gyüme Tantric College. Currently, he is the resident teacher at Jamyang Buddhist Centre, London, and teaches worldwide.
In this conversation Geshe la and Daniel discuss:
- Lama Zopa Rinpoche and the guidance he provided in Geshe la’s education;
- how to think clearly;
- life in Sera Jey and learning through debate;
- the importance of doubt and contemplation in learning;
- the three types of dependent arising;
- and much more!
Remember to subscribe to the Wisdom Podcast for more great conversations on Buddhism, meditation, and mindfulness. And please give us a 5-star rating in Apple Podcasts if you enjoy our show—it’s a great support to us and helps other people find the podcast. Thank you!
The post Geshe Tenzin Namdak: The Mind and Knowing (#171) appeared first on The Wisdom Experience.
This episode of the Wisdom Podcast features Venerable Bhikkhu Anālayo. Venerable Anālayo is a scholar, meditation teacher, and author. He completed his PhD research on the Satipaṭṭhānasutta at the University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka. His works from Wisdom include Daughters of the Buddha, Early Buddhist Oral Tradition, Superiority Conceit in Buddhist Traditions, and Rebirth in Early Buddhism and Current Research. In this episode Ven. Anālayo and host Daniel Aitken discuss Venerable’s newest release The Signless and the Deathless.
They also discuss:
- the nature of signs;
- our perception of reality;
- the practice of bare awareness;
- and more!
Remember to subscribe to the Wisdom Podcast for more great conversations on Buddhism, meditation, and mindfulness. And please give us a 5-star rating in Apple Podcasts if you enjoy our show—it’s a great support to us and it helps other people find the podcast. Thank you!
The post Venerable Bhikkhu Anālayo: The Signless and the Deathless (#170) appeared first on The Wisdom Experience.
This episode of the Wisdom Podcast, recorded live as a Wisdom Dharma Chat features Kyabje Kalu Rinpoche. Rinpoche is the Lineage Holder of Shangpa Kagyu. He was born in 1990 and recognized by H. H. the Dalai Lama and H. H. the 12th Chamgon Kenting Tai Situpa. Kalu Rinpoche completed the traditional three-year retreat between January 2004 and September 2008. After graduating he traveled, gaining experience in the modern world, before returning to Sonada to give the full Shangpa transmission. Rinpoche continues to connect traditional Shagpa Kagyu teaching to a modern, digital world. His work makes these teachings accessible, ensuring they will remain available for generations to come. During this episode host, Daniel Aitken, and Rinpoche discuss Rinpoche’s perspective on dharma in the modern world, Niguma Yoga, his upcoming Wisdom Academy Course, The Illusory Body and Mind (formerly titled Luminous Mind), and much more.
This episode contains a discussion of the live yoga demonstration from Rinpoche. You can view that demonstration from the video recording here from minutes 44:09-1:00:12.
Remember to subscribe to the Wisdom Podcast for more great conversations on Buddhism, meditation, and mindfulness. And please give us a 5-star rating in Apple Podcasts if you enjoy our show—it’s a great support to us and it helps other people find the podcast. Thank you!
The post Kyabje Kalu Rinpoche: The Yoga of Niguma (#169) appeared first on The Wisdom Experience.
This episode of the Wisdom Podcast, recorded live as a Wisdom Dharma Chat features special guest Thupten Jinpa and host Daniel Aitken in a discussion about the series Science and Philosophy in the Indian Buddhist Classics series. The two pay special attention to the newest and last volume in the series, Volume 4: Philosophical Topics. Jinpa reads select passages and provides commentary and explanations from the book as well as answers questions from the audience.
They also discuss:
- Illusion vs like an illusion;
- Conventional truth and conventional existence ;
- How to keep your practice fresh;
- Difficulties with translating and terminology from Tibetan to English;
- and more!
Video featured in this episode:
Science and Philosophy in the Indian Buddhist Classics Trailer
Remember to subscribe to the Wisdom Podcast for more great conversations on Buddhism, meditation, and mindfulness. And please give us a 5-star rating in Apple Podcasts if you enjoy our show—it’s a great support to us and it helps other people find the podcast. Thank you!
The post Thupten Jinpa: Science and Philosophy in the Indian Buddhist Classics (#168) appeared first on The Wisdom Experience.
This episode of the Wisdom Podcast, features Lama Tsomo. Lama Tsomo is a spiritual teacher, author, and co-founder of Namchak Foundation, which preserves and shares Tibetan Buddhist practice in accessible, contemporary ways. She dedicates the majority of her time and resources to sharing the teachings and practices of the Namchak tradition, a branch of Tibetan Buddhism. Utilizing her psychology background, Lama Tsomo works to make it easier for Westerners to bridge contemplative practice and modern life. She is particularly passionate about reaching young people and supporting those working for positive social change.
Lama Tsomo holds an M.A. in Counseling Psychology and is the author of Ancient Wisdom for Our Times: Tibetan Buddhist Practice Series and coauthor of The Lotus & the Rose: A Conversation Between Tibetan Buddhism & Mystical Christianity and the Taking a Breath meditation journal.
In this episode, Lama Tsomo and Daniel discuss:
- The art of retreat and how to prepare yourself for retreat;
- the four immeasurables and how they relate to meditation practices and habit formation;
- Lama Tsomo also offers advice on how to incorporate your practice into modern, often busy, schedules;
- And more!
Additional links mentioned in this episode:
“Neuroscience Reveals the Secrets of Meditation’s Benefits” Scientific AmericanMind of the Meditator from Taking a BreathWalking the Path Retreat
Remember to subscribe to the Wisdom Podcast for more great conversations on Buddhism, meditation, and mindfulness. And please give us a 5-star rating in Apple Podcasts if you enjoy our show—it’s a great support to us and it helps other people find the podcast. Thank you!
The post Lama Tsomo: Ancient Wisdom for Our Times (#167) appeared first on The Wisdom Experience.
This episode of the Wisdom Podcast, recorded live as a Wisdom Dharma Chat, features a special guest, Malcolm Smith. Malcolm Smith has been a student of the Great Perfection teachings since 1992 and graduated in 2009 from Shang Shung Institute’s School of Tibetan Medicine. He is a veteran of the traditional three-year solitary Tibetan Buddhist […]
The post Malcolm Smith: Dzogchen: Ten Key Terms (#166) appeared first on The Wisdom Experience.
This episode of the Wisdom Podcast, recorded live as a Wisdom Dharma Chat, features a special guest, Khandro Kunga Bumma. As a young woman, Khando-la had a vision to leave her homeland of Tibet and go to Nepal. There, she met a hermit sage who told her that she had to meet His Holiness the […]
The post Khandro Kunga Bumma: Bodhicitta, Happiness, and Interdependence (#165) appeared first on The Wisdom Experience.
This episode of the Wisdom Podcast, recorded live as a Wisdom Dharma Chat, features the return of special guest Karl Brunnhölzl, MD, PhD. Karl was originally trained as a physician. He received his systematic training in Tibetan language and Buddhist philosophy and practice at the Marpa Institute for Translators, founded by Khenpo Tsultrim Gyamtso Rinpoche, […]
The post Karl Brunnhölzl: Sounds of Innate Freedom: Volume 3 (#164) appeared first on The Wisdom Experience.
This episode of the Wisdom Podcast features Geshe Tenzin Namdak. After completing his university studies in Hydrology, Geshe la worked as an environmental researcher in the Netherlands. He began studying Buddhism at Maitreya Institute and was eventually ordained by His Holiness the Dalai Lama before completing the 20-year Geshe degree at Sera Jey monastic university in India, as well as the traditional one-year Vajrayana study program at Gyume Tantric College. Currently, he is the resident teacher at Jamyang Buddhist Centre, London, and teaches worldwide. As part of The Sera Jey Monastic University Translation Department, Geshe la edited and translated Khedrup Je’s commentary on Dharmakīrti’s Seven Treatises on Valid Cognition, published as Freedom Through Correct Knowing.
In this episode, host Daniel Aitken and Geshe la discuss:
- His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s inspiration and blessings for the Sera Jey Monastic University Translation Department;
- translation and topics covered in Khedrup Je’s commentary on Dharmakīrti’s Seven Treatises on Valid Cognition, published as Freedom Through Correct Knowing;
- pedagogy, epistemology, and logic studies in the Geshe curriculum at Sera Jey;
- the practical application of Buddhist epistemology and logic to the path of enlightenment;
- Pramānavārttika and the practical purposes of debate in the Tibetan monastic tradition;
- the Wisdom Academy online course, Freedom Through Correct Knowing;
- and much more!
Remember to subscribe to the Wisdom Podcast for more great conversations on Buddhism, meditation, and mindfulness. And please give us a 5-star rating in Apple Podcasts if you enjoy our show—it’s a great support to us and it helps other people find the podcast. Thank you!
The post Geshe Tenzin Namdak: Freedom Through Correct Knowing (#163) appeared first on The Wisdom Experience.
In this episode of the Wisdom Podcast, Wisdom CEO Daniel Aitken interviews renowned teachers Tenzin Wangyal Rinpoche and Yongey Mingyur Rinpoche. This conversation heralded the beginning of the 2020 Serenity Ridge Dialogues, an online summit exploring the intersection of spirituality and science.
In this episode, Daniel and the two Rinpoches discuss many facets of Dharma practice in the modern world, including:
- Tenzin Wangyal Rinpoche’s inspiration for starting the Dialogues
- What motivated the Rinpoches to start engaging in conversations about the mind with neuroscientists
- What the Rinpoches would study if they had their own neuroscience labs
- What about Buddhism uniquely places it in a position to engage with science
- What the term “Buddhist sciences” really means
- and much more!
This event was co-produced with Ligmincha International, the Contemplative Sciences Center at the University of Virginia, and the Jung Center’s Mind Body Spirit Institute.
Remember to subscribe to the Wisdom Podcast for more great conversations on Buddhism, meditation, and mindfulness. And please give us a 5-star rating in Apple Podcasts if you enjoy our show—it’s a great support to us and it helps other people find the podcast. Thank you!
The post Tenzin Wangyal Rinpoche and Yongey Mingyur Rinpoche: Dharma in the Modern World (#162) appeared first on The Wisdom Experience.
This Wisdom Podcast filmed as a live Wisdom Dharma Chat features special guest Venerable Bhikku Bodhi. Ven. Bhikkhu Bodhi is an American Buddhist monk from New York City, born in 1944. He obtained a BA in philosophy from Brooklyn College and a PhD in philosophy from Claremont Graduate School. After completing his university studies he traveled to Sri Lanka, where he received novice ordination in 1972 and full ordination in 1973, both under the leading Sri Lankan scholar-monk, Ven. Balangoda Ananda Maitreya (1896-1998). From 1984 to 2002 he was the editor for the Buddhist Publication Society in Kandy, where he lived for ten years with the senior German monk, Ven. Nyanaponika Thera (1901-1994), at the Forest Hermitage. He returned to the U.S. in 2002. He currently lives and teaches at Chuang Yen Monastery in Carmel, New York. Ven. Bodhi has many important publications to his credit, either as an author, translator, or editor. These include The Middle Length Discourses of the Buddha (Majjhima Nikaya, 1995), The Connected Discourses of the Buddha (Samyutta Nikaya, 2000), and The Numerical Discourses of the Buddha (Anguttara Nikaya, 2012). In 2008, together with several of his students, Ven. Bodhi founded Buddhist Global Relief, a nonprofit supporting hunger relief, sustainable agriculture, and education in countries suffering from chronic poverty and malnutrition.
Venerable and host Daniel Aitken discuss:
– Venerable’s book, Reading the Buddha’s Discourses in Pāli;
– The challenges of translating certain technical terms from Pāli such as words for knowledge and wisdom;
– The relationship between the Pāli suttas and the actual languages that the Buddha may have spoken;
– The benefits of learning Pāli;
– Which words are hardest to translate from Pāli;
– How to memorize Pāli verses;
– And much more.
Links mentioned in the conversations can be found below:
- https://www.buddhistglobalrelief.org/buddhist-action-2020/
- https://www.buddhistglobalrelief.org/donate/
- https://wisdomexperience.org/product/buddhas-words/
- https://wisdomexperience.org/wisdom-article/rebirth-in-early-buddhism-dhammaruwans-story/
Remember to subscribe to the Wisdom Podcast for more great conversations on Buddhism, meditation, and mindfulness. And please give us a 5-star rating in Apple Podcasts if you enjoy our show—it’s a great support to us and it helps other people find the podcast. Thank you!
The post Venerable Bhikku Bodhi: Reading the Buddha’s Discourses in Pali (#161) appeared first on The Wisdom Experience.
This Wisdom Podcast filmed as a live Wisdom Dharma Chat features special guest Karl Brunnhölzl. Originally trained as a physician, Karl Brunnhölzl, MD, PhD, received his systematic training in Tibetan language and Buddhist philosophy and practice at the Marpa Institute for Translators, founded by Khenpo Tsultrim Gyamtso Rinpoche, as well as the Nitartha Institute, founded by Dzogchen Ponlop Rinpoche. Since 1989 he has been a translator and interpreter of Tibetan and English. Karl is a senior teacher and translator in the Nalandabodhi community of Dzogchen Ponlop Rinpoche, as well as at Nitartha Institute. He is also the author and translator of numerous texts, including most recently Sounds of Innate Freedom, Volume 3: The Indian Texts of Mahāmudrā, the canon of the mahasiddhas.
In this episode, Karl and host Daniel Aitken discuss:
- his book, Sounds of Innate Freedom, Volume 4: The Indian Texts of Mahāmudrā;
- the dohā tradition of the mahasiddhas;
- singing and dancing as part of the path;
- the voice of women in the Mahāmudrā songs of realization;
- Karl’s musical recordings of the dohās, which can be found here;
- and much more.
Remember to subscribe to the Wisdom Podcast for more great conversations on Buddhism, meditation, and mindfulness. And please give us a 5-star rating in Apple Podcasts if you enjoy our show—it’s a great support to us and it helps other people find the podcast. Thank you!
The post Karl Brunnhölzl: Sounds of Innate Freedom (#160) appeared first on The Wisdom Experience.
This episode of the Wisdom Podcast features Shaila Catherine, who has been practicing meditation since 1980, with more than eight years of accumulated silent retreat experience. She has taught insight meditation since 1996 in the U.S. and internationally, dedicating several years to studying with masters in India, Nepal, and Thailand. She is the founder of Bodhi Courses—an online Dhamma classroom, and Insight Meditation South Bay—a Buddhist meditation center in Silicon Valley. Shaila has completed a one-year intensive meditation retreat and trained in jhana, metta, samadhi, and vipassana practices. Shaila is also the author of Beyond Distraction, Focused and Fearless: A Meditator’s Guide to States of Deep Joy, Calm, and Clarity, and Wisdom Wide and Deep: A Practical Handbook for Mastering Jhāna and Vipassanā.
Beyond Distraction is also available as an upcoming Wisdom Academy online course!
In this episode, host Daniel Aitken and Shaila discuss
- what distraction and intention mean for meditators at every level of experience;
- ‘wholesomeness’ and mental states rooted in greed, hate, and delusion;
- mindfulness, the construction of identity, and recognizing conditioning;
- realistic strategies for overcoming restlessness and distraction as presented in her new book Beyond Distraction;
- her experience with deep meditative states and practical wisdom we can apply now;
- shifting habitual patterns and thoughts by identifying and examining them gently;
- wisely approaching concentration and the joyful cultivation of insight;
- and much more!
Remember to subscribe to the Wisdom Podcast for more great conversations on Buddhism, meditation, and mindfulness. And please give us a 5-star rating in Apple Podcasts if you enjoy our show—it’s a great support to us and it helps other people find the podcast. Thank you!
The post Shaila Catherine: Beyond Distraction (#158) appeared first on The Wisdom Experience.
This episode of the Wisdom Podcast, recorded live as a Wisdom Dharma Chat, features Cortland Dahl speaking with host Daniel Aitken. Cortland is a scientist, translator, and meditation teacher who offers workshops and leads retreats around the world. He has practiced meditation for nearly three decades and has spent time on retreat in monasteries and retreat centers throughout Japan, Burma, and India, including eight years spent living in Tibetan refugee settlements in Kathmandu, Nepal. In addition to his work as an Instructor for the Tergar community and Executive Director of Tergar International, Cortland serves as Research Scientist and Chief Contemplative Officer at UW-Madison’s Center for Healthy Minds and the center’s affiliated non-profit, Healthy Minds Innovations. Cortland is actively involved in scientific research and has published articles on the impact of meditation practices on the body, mind, and brain. He has also published twelve books of translations of classical texts on Buddhist philosophy and meditation.
Cortland and Daniel discuss:
- Cort’s journey to the Dharma, struggling with childhood anxiety;
- discovering relief through establishing a meditation practice;
- Cortland’s years in Asia, connecting with Yongey Mingyur Rinpoche and Chatral Sangye Dorje Rinpoche;
- returning to the West and academia via the emerging contemplative sciences field;
- using technology to support the unfolding of inner experience;
- and much more!
Remember to subscribe to the Wisdom Podcast for more great conversations on Buddhism, meditation, and mindfulness. And please give us a 5-star rating in Apple Podcasts if you enjoy our show—it’s a great support to us and it helps other people find the podcast. Thank you!
The post Cortland Dahl: Meditation and Neuroscience (#157) appeared first on The Wisdom Experience.
This episode of the Wisdom Podcast, recorded live as a Wisdom Dharma Chat, features Susan A. Landesman interviewed by Prof. Robert Thurman and host Daniel Aitken.
Susan A. Landesman, independent scholar and educator in New York City, is the author and translator of “The Tārā Tantra: Tārā’s Fundamental Ritual Text (Tārā-mūla-kalpa),” “Goddess Tārā: Silence and Secrecy on the Path to Enlightenment,” “Tara” (in the Oxford Bibliographies), and “The Tārā Tantra: Part II: The Uttara-tantra” (forthcoming). Having completed her doctorate in Indian and Tibetan languages and cultures at Columbia University, she specializes in Indo-Tibetan Buddhism, Tibetan art, and women in Buddhism.
Robert Thurman is an American Buddhist author, academic, and former Je Tsongkhapa Professor of Indo-Tibetan Buddhist Studies at Columbia University, before retiring in June 2019. Graduate of Philips Exeter and Harvard, he studied Tibet and Tibetan Buddhism as a personal student of His Holiness the Dalai Lama. He has lectured widely all over the world, is President of the American Institute for Buddhist Studies, and is also a founding trustee of Tibet House New York.
Susan, Robert, and Daniel discuss:
- Susan’s background in visual arts and pathway to Tibetan Buddhism with Prof. Alex Wayman;
- translating with Geshe Lobsang Jamspel at Columbia and her dissertation on the Tārā Tantra;
- the vivid, inspiring imagery of the tantras;
- Tārā’s important role as a Buddha and enlightened protector;
- Susan’s upcoming translation “The Tārā Tantra: Part II: The Uttara-tantra;”
- contemporary Tibetan artist Samten Dakpa;
- and much more.
Remember to subscribe to the Wisdom Podcast for more great conversations on Buddhism, meditation, and mindfulness. And please give us a 5-star rating in Apple Podcasts if you enjoy our show—it’s a great support to us and it helps other people find the podcast. Thank you!
The post Robert Thurman & Susan A. Landesman: The Tārā Tantra (#156) appeared first on The Wisdom Experience.
This Wisdom Podcast features Sensei Koshin Paley Ellison. Koshin is an author, Zen teacher, Jungian psychotherapist, and Certified Chaplaincy Educator. He has six years of training at the Jungian Psychoanalytic Association as well as clinical contemplative training at both Mount Sinai Beth Israel Medical Center and New York Presbyterian Medical Center which culminated in his […]
The post Koshin Paley Ellison: Untangled (#155) appeared first on The Wisdom Experience.
In this episode of the Wisdom Podcast, recorded live as a Wisdom Dharma Chat, host Daniel Aitken is joined by Khandro Kunzang Dechen Chodron, student of the great Nyingmapa Tsa-Lung and Dzogchen master, Kunzang Dorje Rinpoche. Khandro Kunzang left behind a promising career in the early 1990’s to pursue her practice of the Dharma and […]
The post Khandro Kunzang Dechen Chodron: Immersion in the Ngagpa Tradition (#154) appeared first on The Wisdom Experience.
This Wisdom Podcast episode features Geshe YongDong Losar. Geshela is a Tibetan Bön lama, or spiritual teacher, in the Yungdrung Bön lineage, which is rooted in the indigenous spiritual tradition of the Himalayas. He lives in Courtenay, British Columbia, where he established and directs Sherab Chamma Ling, the only Tibetan Bön Buddhist Center in Canada. He […]
The post Geshe YongDong: Calm Breath, Calm Mind (#153) appeared first on The Wisdom Experience.
This Wisdom Podcast features translator and philosopher Mark Siderits, trained in Asian and Western philosophy at the University of Hawaii and Yale University. Mark has taught both Asian and Western philosophy for many years at Illinois State University, and as Professor of philosophy at Seoul National University. He is the author or editor of five books […]
The post Mark Siderits: Buddhism as Philosophy (#152) appeared first on The Wisdom Experience.
This episode of the Wisdom Podcast, recorded live as a Wisdom Dharma Chat, features Thupten Jinpa Langri and host Daniel Aitken. Thupten Jinpa, educated in the classical Tibetan monastic academia and Geshe Lharampa, equivalent to a doctorate in divinity. Jinpa also holds a BA in philosophy and a PhD in religious studies, both from the […]
The post Thupten Jinpa: Tsongkhapa’s Mādhyamaka (#151) appeared first on The Wisdom Experience.
This episode of the Wisdom Podcast features James B. Apple, Professor of Buddhist Studies at the University of Calgary. James’ research focuses upon critical analysis of Mahāyāna sūtras and topics within Indian and Tibetan Buddhist scholasticism. His numerous books and articles include Stairway to Nirvāṇa, A Stairway taken by the Lucid, Jewels of the Middle Way, Atiśa Dīpaṃkara Illuminator […]
The post James B. Apple: Stairway to Atiśa (#149) appeared first on The Wisdom Experience.
This episode of the Wisdom Podcast, recorded live as a Wisdom Dharma Chat, features host Daniel Aitken joined by Malcolm Smith—translator in the Tibetan Buddhist tradition and long-time practitioner of Dzogchen. Malcolm Smith has been a student of the Great Perfection teachings since 1992, his main Dzogchen teachers being Chögyal Namkhai Norbu and the late Kunzang […]
The post Malcolm Smith: Dzogchen, Sakya, and Translation (#148) appeared first on The Wisdom Experience.
This episode of the Wisdom Podcast features an interview with special guest Prof. Dr. Klaus-Dieter Mathes, Head of the Department of South Asian, Tibetan, and Buddhist Studies at the University of Vienna. Host Daniel Aitken and Klaus-Dieter discuss: his initial interest in western philosophy and physics, and his journey physically and intellectually to the east; […]
The post Klaus-Dieter Mathes: Mahamudra and Shentong (#147) appeared first on The Wisdom Experience.
This Wisdom Podcast, recorded live as a Wisdom Dharma Chat, features a conversation with Yongey Mingyur Rinpoche and host Daniel Aitken. Rinpoche is the author of two bestselling books and oversees the Tergar Meditation Community, an international network of Buddhist meditation centers. He is the son of the renowned meditation master Tulku Urgyen Rinpoche and was formally enthroned […]
The post Yongey Mingyur Rinpoche: Recognizing Awareness (#146) appeared first on The Wisdom Experience.
This episode of the Wisdom Podcast features Heidi I. Köppl, translator and interpreter for Tibetan lamas such as Chökyi Nyima Rinpoche and Tulku Urgyen Rinpoche, and editor-in-chief of Tara’s Triple Excellence Online Meditation Program. Heidi translated at the Ka-Nying Shedrub Ling Monastery in Nepal for more than a decade and has been a faculty member […]
The post Heidi I. Köppl: Roots of Duality (#145) appeared first on The Wisdom Experience.
This episode of the Wisdom Podcast, recorded live as a Wisdom Dharma Chat, features Karma Trinlay Rinpoche, a highly accomplished Buddhist teacher and meditation master. Born in 1975 to an American mother and French Father, and recognized by His Holiness the 16th Karmapa, Rinpoche is the first reincarnated Westerner of French and American origin to […]
The post Karma Trinlay Rinpoche: Life as a Tulku (#144) appeared first on The Wisdom Experience.
This episode of the Wisdom Podcast features Wisdom author Venerable Bhikkhu Anālayo: scholar, author, and meditation teacher. Born in Germany in 1962 and ordained in Sri Lanka in 1995, Ven. Bhikkhu Anālayo completed a PhD thesis on the Satipaṭṭhāna Sutta at the University of Peradeniya in 2000, and is faculty member and scholar at several academic institutions. […]
The post Ven. Anālayo: Early Buddhist Oral Tradition (#143) appeared first on The Wisdom Experience.
This episode of the Wisdom Podcast, recorded live as a Wisdom Dharma Chat, features poet, writer, and Sanbo Zen teacher Henry Shukman. Henry is Guiding Teacher at Mountain Cloud Zen Center in Santa Fe, studying primarily with Joan Rieck Roshi, John Gaynor, Ruben Habito Roshi, and continuing his training under Yamada Ryo’un Roshi. He also trained in […]
The post Henry Shukman: Radical Simplicity (#142) appeared first on The Wisdom Experience.
This episode of the Wisdom Podcast, recorded live as a Wisdom Dharma Chat, features contemporary Tibetan artist Rabkar Wangchuk. Traditionally trained, Rabkar studied for seventeen years at Gyudmed Tantric University, where he also received training in Tibetan thangka painting and arts. After moving to the West, Rabkar’s style has continued evolving into its own unique […]
The post Mystery of Life (#141) appeared first on The Wisdom Experience.
This episode of the Wisdom Podcast, recorded live as a Wisdom Dharma Chat, features special guest His Eminence the 12th Zurmang Gharwang Rinpoche as he and host Daniel Aitken celebrate the launch of Rinpoche’s most recent book, Mahāmudrā: A Practical Guide. H.E. Gharwang Rinpoche was born into the Sikkimese Royal Court and was recognized by H.H. […]
The post Mahāmudrā: A Practical Guide (#140) appeared first on The Wisdom Experience.
This episode of the Wisdom Podcast features an interview with special guest Matthew Kapstein Ph.D., Numata Professor of Buddhist Studies at the University of Chicago, director of Tibetan Studies at the École Pratique des Hautes Études Paris, and co-editor of the online Oxford Bibliographies of Buddhism. His numerous publications include Buddhism Between Tibet and China, Reason’s Traces, Contributions […]
The post Matthew Kapstein: The Reluctant Professor (#139) appeared first on The Wisdom Experience.
This episode of the Wisdom Podcast features Shaila Catherine, who has been practicing meditation since 1980, with more than eight years of accumulated silent retreat experience. She has taught insight meditation since 1996 in the U.S. and internationally, dedicating several years to studying with masters in India, Nepal, and Thailand. She is the founder of Bodhi Courses—an […]
The post Shaila Catherine: Beyond Distraction (#138) appeared first on The Wisdom Experience.
This episode of the Wisdom Podcast, recorded live as a Wisdom Dharma Chat, features an interview with host Daniel Aitken and special guests Venerable Robina and Venerable Chokyi, discussing their work with the Liberation Prison Project. The Liberation Prison Project offers spiritual advice and teachings, as well as Dharma books and materials, to people in […]
The post Venerable Robina and Venerable Chokyi: Liberation Prison Project (#137) appeared first on The Wisdom Experience.
This episode of the Wisdom Podcast features an interview with Daniel A. Hirshberg, who earned a PhD from Harvard University in 2012 and was associate professor in the Department of Classics, Philosophy, & Religion at the University of Mary Washington in Fredericksburg, Virginia. Since recording this podcast, Dan left his tenured professorship to found SŌTERIC. In […]
The post Daniel A. Hirshberg: Nyingma Lore and Lineage (#136) appeared first on The Wisdom Experience.
This episode of the Wisdom Podcast features an interview with Dr. Alejandro Chaoul, who has studied Tibetan yoga for thirty years with the tradition’s greatest masters, including Namkhai Norbu Rinpoche and Tenzin Wangyal Rinpoche. Dr. Chaoul and host Daniel Aitken explore Tsa Lung Trul Khor (“channel/wind obstacle-clearing techniques”) yoga practice and its place in Dzogchen […]
The post Alejandro Chaoul on Body Buddhism (#135) appeared first on The Wisdom Experience.
This episode of the Wisdom Podcast, recorded live at the 2021 Serenity Ridge Dialogues features a conversation between H. H. the 42nd Sakya Trizin, Geshe Tenzin Wangyal Rinpoche, & B. Alan Wallace, moderated by Daniel Aitken. Topics discussed include body, breath, mind, and the nature of consciousness in scientific and spiritual paradigms; views on the […]
The post H. H. the 42nd Sakya Trizin, Geshe Tenzin Wangyal Rinpoche, & B. Alan Wallace in Conversation (#134) appeared first on The Wisdom Experience.
This episode of the Wisdom Podcast, recorded live as a Wisdom Dharma Chat, features a discussion with special guests Venerable Bhikkhu Anālayo and Yongey Mingyur Rinpoche. Ven. Anālayo, Rinpoche, and host Daniel Aitken discuss many Buddhist ideas and practices, comparing what different Buddhist traditions have to say about them, including how the Buddha practiced; understanding […]
The post Ven. Bhikkhu Anālayo and Yongey Mingyur Rinpoche: Early Buddhism and Dzogchen (#133) appeared first on The Wisdom Experience.
This episode of the Wisdom Podcast features an interview with Alexander Berzin. Alex is a translator and teacher of Tibetan Buddhism. A prolific author and translator, he has published seventeen books and is also the founder of StudyBuddhism.com, an extensive source of authentic Buddhist teachings, presented in a down-to-earth and practical way. Alex and host Daniel […]
The post Alexander Berzin: Dharma for Everyone (#132) appeared first on The Wisdom Experience.
This episode of the Wisdom Podcast features an interview with Pamela Weiss. Pamela is the author of A Bigger Sky: Awakening a Fierce Feminine Buddhism, a teacher in the Insight tradition, and has received Dharma transmission from Teah Strozer at the Brooklyn Zen Center. Pamela and host Daniel Aitken discuss how she found Buddhism through […]
The post Pamela Weiss: Real Health, Real Freedom, and Fierce Feminine Buddhism (#131) appeared first on The Wisdom Experience.
This episode of the Wisdom Podcast, recorded live as a Wisdom Dharma Chat, features an interview with Dzongsar Khyentse Rinpoche—teacher, filmmaker, writer, and founder of several nonprofit initiatives including 84000: Translating the Words of the Buddha. This episode was a special launch celebration for the 84000 app. Rinpoche and host Daniel Aitken discuss the importance […]
The post Dzongsar Khyentse Rinpoche: 84000 App Launch Celebration (#130) appeared first on The Wisdom Experience.
This episode of the Wisdom Podcast, recorded live as a Wisdom Dharma Chat, features an interview with special guest Karl Brunnhölzl, celebrating the launch of his book Milarepa’s Kungfu. In this episode, Karl and host Daniel Aitken discuss the origin of the book’s unusual title, what inspired Karl to create this book, why the text […]
The post Karl Brunnhölzl: Milarepa’s Kungfu (#129) appeared first on The Wisdom Experience.
This episode of the Wisdom Podcast features an interview with Achariya Doug Qapel Duncan and Catherine Pawasarat Sensei, both trained in the Karma Kagyu lineage. They follow the tradition of the late Namgyal Rinpoche, a pioneer weaving together Eastern and Western traditions. Qapel and Catherine Sensei teach meditation and act as spiritual mentors to students […]
The post Achariya Doug Qapel Duncan and Catherine Pawasarat Sensei: Journeying Across Traditions (#128) appeared first on The Wisdom Experience.
This episode of the Wisdom Podcast, recorded live as a Wisdom Dharma Chat, features an interview with David Nichtern, a senior Buddhist teacher, meditation guide, Emmy award–winning composer and musician, and founder of Dharma Moon. David is the author of two books with Wisdom: Awakening from the Daydream and Creativity, Spirituality, and Making a Buck. […]
The post David Nichtern: Unsheathing the Sword of Prajna (#127) appeared first on The Wisdom Experience.
This episode of the Wisdom Podcast features an interview with Jetsunma Tenzin Palmo. Tenzin Palmo is a bhikṣuṇī in the Drukpa lineage of the Kagyu school of Tibetan Buddhism and a brilliant teacher who is able to touch the hearts of many with her presence, her profound understanding of the Dharma, and its relevance and […]
The post Jetsunma Tenzin Palmo: Emptiness, Dzogchen, and Women in Buddhism (#126) appeared first on The Wisdom Experience.
This episode of the Wisdom Podcast, recorded live as a Wisdom Dharma Chat, features a conversation with Sensei Koshin Paley Ellison. Koshin is an author, Zen teacher, Jungian psychotherapist, and certified chaplaincy educator. Koshin and host Daniel Aitken discuss the Commit-to-Sit: 90-Day Commitment to Practice he ran earlier this year; his most recent book, Wholehearted; […]
The post Koshin Paley Ellison: Making All of Life a Place of Practice (#125) appeared first on The Wisdom Experience.
This episode of the Wisdom Podcast, recorded live as a Wisdom Dharma Chat, features a conversation with beloved teacher Yongey Mingyur Rinpoche. Rinpoche and host Daniel Aitken discuss practice during lockdown (this episode was recorded in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic), working with anxiety and stress, how to choose which teachings to follow, how to […]
The post Yongey Mingyur Rinpoche: Dharma for Difficult Times (#124) appeared first on The Wisdom Experience.
This episode of the Wisdom Podcast, recorded live as a Wisdom Dharma Chat, features a conversation with renowned translator and scholar Robert Thurman. Dr. Thurman and host Daniel Aitken cover topics such as the not-self; the nature of nirvana; how we try to conceive ultimate reality and its true nature; understanding the importance of negation; […]
The post Robert Thurman: Mind, Self, and Reality (#123) appeared first on The Wisdom Experience.
This episode of the Wisdom Podcast, recorded live as a Wisdom Dharma Chat, features a conversation with renowned translator and scholar Vesna A. Wallace. She and host Daniel Aitken discuss the Kalachakra Tantra, including the subtle body in the Kalachakra, what makes the Kalachakra unique, and much more. Vesna teaches South Asian and Inner Asian […]
The post Vesna Wallace: Exploring the Kalachakra Tantra (#122) appeared first on The Wisdom Experience.
This episode of the Wisdom Podcast, recorded live as a Wisdom Dharma Chat, features a conversation with beloved teacher Guy Armstrong. He and host Daniel Aitken discuss many aspects of Guy’s journey into Dharma and his practice with many famous Theravadin masters, as well as themes of interest to Guy, like emptiness. Guy has been […]
The post Guy Armstrong: Illuminating Emptiness (#121) appeared first on The Wisdom Experience.
This episode of the Wisdom Podcast, recorded live as a Wisdom Dharma Chat, features a conversation with Kyabje Kalu Rinpoche, the lineage holder of Shangpa Kagyu. Rinpoche and Daniel discuss what it means to be a lineage holder; how lineage helps preserve the Dharma; the difference between tradition and lineage; how to connect with a […]
The post Kyabje Kalu Rinpoche: Lineage, Renunciation, and Engaged Buddhism (#120) appeared first on The Wisdom Experience.
This episode of the Wisdom Podcast, recorded live as a Wisdom Dharma Chat, features a conversation with Ven. Sangye Khadro, a Tibetan Buddhist nun and author of the bestselling book How to Meditate: A Practical Guide. Ven. Khadro (Kathleen McDonald) tells us how she discovered Buddhism and how she wrote How to Meditate, including how […]
The post Ven. Sangye Khadro: How to Meditate (#119) appeared first on The Wisdom Experience.
This episode of the Wisdom Podcast, recorded live as a Wisdom Dharma Chat, features a conversation with Lama Alan Wallace, author, scholar, president of the Santa Barbara Institute for Consciousness Studies, and Founder, President, and Director of Contemplative Training at the Center for Contemplative Research. Lama Alan has also edited, translated, written, and contributed to […]
The post Lama Alan Wallace: Solitude and Resilience (#118) appeared first on The Wisdom Experience.
This episode of the Wisdom Podcast, recorded live as a Wisdom Dharma Chat, features a conversation with distinguished translator and scholar Donald S. Lopez Jr. Donald is the Arthur E. Link Distinguished University Professor of Buddhist and Tibetan Studies in the department of Asian languages and cultures at the University of Michigan. He is the […]
The post Donald Lopez: Encounters with Great Texts and Great Lamas (#117) appeared first on The Wisdom Experience.
In this episode of the Wisdom Podcast, host Daniel Aitken interviews artist and author Rima Fujita. You’ll hear about Rima’s upbringing in Japan and how she became Buddhist; a dream she had which helped her discover the ways she could support Tibet; how her friendship with His Holiness the Dalai Lama developed; dreams as a […]
The post Rima Fujita: Illustrating the Dalai Lama’s Life (#116) appeared first on The Wisdom Experience.
This episode of the Wisdom Podcast features a conversation with writer, professor, and Wisdom author Chris Ives. Chris has published two books with Wisdom: Zen on the Trail: Hiking as Pilgrimage and Meditations on the Trail: A Guidebook for Self-Discovery, which came out on May 11, 2021. In this conversation, Chris and host Daniel Aitken […]
The post Chris Ives: Meditations on the Trail (#115) appeared first on The Wisdom Experience.
This episode of the Wisdom Podcast, recorded live as a Wisdom Dharma Chat, features a conversation with Lama Migmar Tseten. In this episode, we celebrated the launch of Lama Migmar’s first major book, The Play of Mahamudra. In it, Lama Migmar provides essential commentary on the mystical songs of the Indian Buddhist rebel-saint Virupa. One […]
The post Lama Migmar Tseten: The Play of Mahamudra (#114) appeared first on The Wisdom Experience.
This episode of the Wisdom Podcast, recorded live as a Wisdom Dharma Chat, features a conversation with Thupten Jinpa Langri, renowned scholar, translator, and interpreter for His Holiness the Dalai Lama. In this conversation, Jinpa gives wonderful advice on how to read Dharma texts and integrate them with your practice. He also discusses the art […]
The post Thupten Jinpa: Inspiration for Practice and Study (#113) appeared first on The Wisdom Experience.
This episode of the Wisdom Podcast, recorded live as a Wisdom Dharma Chat, features a conversation with Sarah Harding, a translator and qualified lama in the Shangpa Kagyu tradition of Tibetan Buddhism. Sarah and host Daniel Aitken discuss many topics including her new book with Wisdom, Four Tibetan Lineages. In 1972, Sarah became a student […]
The post Sarah Harding: Dharma Journeys of Practice & Translation (#112) appeared first on The Wisdom Experience.
This episode of the Wisdom Podcast, recorded live as a Wisdom Dharma Chat, features a conversation with simplicity blogger and bestselling author Leo Babauta. Leo created Zen Habits, a Top 25 blog with over a million readers, when he started writing to chronicle and share what he’s learned while changing a number of habits, including […]
The post Leo Babauta: Zen Habits (#111) appeared first on The Wisdom Experience.
This episode of the Wisdom Podcast, recorded live as a Wisdom Dharma Chat, features a conversation with special guest and beloved teacher Dzigar Kongtrul Rinpoche. In this episode, Rinpoche and host Daniel Aitken discuss what it means to train in tenderness, including opening the heart to people we find difficult; the central teachings of his […]
The post Dzigar Kongtrul Rinpoche: Peaceful Heart: The Buddhist Practice of Patience (#110) appeared first on The Wisdom Experience.
This episode of the Wisdom Podcast, recorded live as a Wisdom Dharma Chat, features a conversation with guest Thupten Jinpa Langri. This Dharma Chat was a special book launch where we celebrated the release of Jinpa’s translation of Tsongkhapa’s Illuminating the Intent: An Exposition of Candrakīrti’s Entering the Middle Way. Topics discussed include the significance […]
The post Thupten Jinpa: Illuminating the Intent (#109) appeared first on The Wisdom Experience.
This episode of the Wisdom Podcast, recorded live as a Wisdom Dharma Chat, features an interview with Malcolm Smith, renowned Tibetan Buddhist translator. Malcolm is the translator of two box sets from the Seventeen Tantras, published by Wisdom: The Self-Arisen Vidyā Tantra (Vol. 1) and The Self-Liberated Vidyā Tantra (Vol. 2), and The Tantra Without […]
The post Malcolm Smith: Translating the Tantras (#108) appeared first on The Wisdom Experience.
This episode of the Wisdom Podcast features an interview with Mark Van Buren, a mindful living trainer, yoga and meditation instructor, personal trainer, and musician who has been promoting health and wellness for over a decade. He’s the author of A Fool’s Guide to Actual Happiness and Your Life IS Meditation. Mark discusses: how it […]
The post Mark Van Buren: Your Life Is Meditation (#107) appeared first on The Wisdom Experience.
For this episode of the Wisdom Podcast, host Daniel Aitken interviews poet and teacher John Brehm. Wisdom is proud to have published two of John’s books: his collection The Poetry of Impermanence, Mindfulness, and Joy, which came out in 2017, and his 2021 book The Dharma of Poetry. In this episode we explore the fascinating […]
The post John Brehm: The Dharma of Poetry (#106) appeared first on The Wisdom Experience.
In this special episode of the Wisdom Podcast—recorded live as a Wisdom Dharma Chat—host Daniel Aitken speaks with Michael Imperioli, best known for his role as Christopher Moltisanti in The Sopranos, for which he won a 2004 Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series. Michael is also a practicing Tibetan Buddhist and […]
The post Michael Imperioli: Acting, Success, and the Buddhist Path (#105) appeared first on The Wisdom Experience.
In this special episode of the Wisdom Podcast—recorded live as a Wisdom Dharma Chat—host Daniel Aitken speaks with Anne C. Klein (Lama Rigzin Drolma), professor of religion at Rice University and a founding director and resident teacher of Dawn Mountain, a center for contemplative study and practice in Houston. Anne brings us into the world […]
The post Anne C. Klein: Finding Wholeness in the Dzogchen Path (#104) appeared first on The Wisdom Experience.
For this episode of the Wisdom Podcast, host Daniel Aitken speaks with Zen teacher John Tarrant Roshi about one of John’s favorite topics: Zen koans. As a meditation teacher, koans are a core foundation of John’s teaching methodology, and he has spent a lifetime refining his understanding of their function as a gateway to insight […]
The post John Tarrant Roshi: Koans, Uncertainty, and Insight (#103) appeared first on The Wisdom Experience.
For this episode of the Wisdom Podcast, host Daniel Aitken speaks with returning guest and author Venerable Thubten Chodron about her latest book with His Holiness the Dalai Lama, In Praise of Great Compassion. This is the fifth volume in the Library of Wisdom and Compassion series, which continues the Dalai Lama’s teachings on the […]
The post Venerable Thubten Chodron: In Praise of Great Compassion (#102) appeared first on The Wisdom Experience.
For this episode of the Wisdom Podcast, host Daniel Aitken speaks with returning guest, author and celebrated teacher David Nichtern. Drawing from his book Creativity, Spirituality, and Making a Buck, David discusses how creativity naturally arises and the conditions that make it flourish before diving into concepts of “clarity, intention, and effort” in the context […]
The post David Nichtern: Buddhist Wisdom for Realizing Your Creative Vision (#101) appeared first on The Wisdom Experience.
For this, our 100th episode of the Wisdom Podcast, we have the honor and privilege of being joined by His Holiness the Dalai Lama and other important guests celebrating the release of Science and Philosophy in the Indian Buddhist Classics, Volume 2: The Mind. During this special live event, His Holiness is presented with a […]
The post His Holiness the Dalai Lama: Science and Philosophy in the Indian Buddhist Classics (#100) appeared first on The Wisdom Experience.
In this episode of the Wisdom Podcast, host Daniel Aitken speaks with author, teacher, and researcher Dr. Alejandro Chaoul. Alejandro has been teaching meditation and Tibetan yoga (tsa lung and trul khor) workshops under the Ligmincha Institute since 1995 and recently released Tibetan Yoga, a Wisdom Academy online course. During this episode, which was recorded […]
The post Alejandro Chaoul: Body, Breath, and Mind in Tibetan Yoga (#99) appeared first on The Wisdom Experience.
In this episode of the Wisdom Podcast, host Daniel Aitken speaks with acclaimed Wisdom author Toni Bernard. In this powerful conversation, which was recorded as part of our live Wisdom Dharma Chats program, Toni discusses her most recent book, How to Be Sick: Your Pocket Companion, and shares her personal story detailing how her practice […]
The post Toni Bernhard: Self-Compassion and the First Noble Truth (#98) appeared first on The Wisdom Experience.
For this episode of the Wisdom Podcast, host Daniel Aitken speaks with Evan Thompson, professor of philosophy at the University of British Columbia, and author of several books including Waking, Dreaming, Being: Self and Consciousness in Neuroscience, Meditation, and Philosophy. Evan is among the most widely respected philosophers and writers on Buddhism today. In this […]
The post Evan Thompson: The Conversation Between Buddhism and Science (#97) appeared first on The Wisdom Experience.
For this episode of the Wisdom Podcast, host Daniel Aitken speaks with Professor John Dunne, acclaimed scholar and teacher in both Indian and Tibetan Buddhist traditions. John’s research focuses on Buddhist philosophy in relationship to contemplative practice, religious studies, and cognitive science. John is presently Distinguished Professor of Contemplative Humanities at the University of Wisconsin–Madison […]
The post John Dunne: Dharmakīrti, Conceptuality, and Antidotes for Distorted Thinking (#96) appeared first on The Wisdom Experience.
For this episode of the Wisdom Podcast, host Daniel Aitken interviews American actress and musician Jessica Pimentel. Jessica is best known for her role as Maria Ruiz on the hit Netflix series Orange is the New Black. She is also a practitioner within the Geluk tradition of Tibetan Buddhism and studied under the former abbot […]
The post Jessica Pimentel: Tibetan Buddhism, Creativity, and the Work of the Imagination (#95) appeared first on The Wisdom Experience.
For this episode of the Wisdom Podcast, host Daniel Aitken speaks with Roger Jackson, renowned scholar of both Indian and Tibetan Buddhist traditions and author of several books, including his most recent, Mind Seeing Mind: Mahāmudrā and the Geluk Tradition of Tibetan Buddhism. We’re also delighted to share that Mind Seeing Mind recently won the […]
The post Roger Jackson: Mahāmudrā in the Geluk and Kagyü Traditions (#94) appeared first on The Wisdom Experience.
For this episode of the Wisdom Podcast, host Daniel Aitken speaks with Michael Mendizza, documentary filmmaker and author of Always Awakening: Buddha’s Realization, Krishnamurti’s Insight. In this fascinating conversation, you’ll hear Michael share stories from his creative filmmaking journeys, and in particular the extremely rare opportunities he had of spending one-on-one time with two towering […]
The post Michael Mendizza: Conversations with Samdhong Rinpoche and J. Krishnamurti appeared first on The Wisdom Experience.
For this episode of the Wisdom Podcast, host Daniel Aitken speaks with Wisdom author and renowned Tibetan Buddhist translator, Malcolm Smith. Malcolm has been a student of the Great Perfection teachings since 1992 and studied under Dzogchen masters Chogyal Namkhai Norbu and the late Kunzang Dechen Lingpa. His translations include Buddhahood in this Life: The […]
The post Malcolm Smith: Translating The Tantra Without Syllables and The Blazing Lamp Tantra appeared first on The Wisdom Experience.
For this episode of the Wisdom Podcast, host Daniel Aitken speaks with Venerable Robina Courtin, Australian-born Buddhist nun. Venerable Robina has led an extremely active and inspiring life—from her dynamic work as an editor of a wide variety of Buddhist books, to her Buddhist teaching activities that traverse the globe. In this lively episode, you’ll […]
The post Venerable Robina Courtin: Understanding the Buddha’s Teachings for Ourselves appeared first on The Wisdom Experience.
For this episode, host Daniel Aitken speaks with Shohaku Okumura Roshi, Japanese Soto Zen priest and revered writer and translator. Shohaku Okumura is also the founder and current abbot of the Sanshin Zen Community in Bloomington, Indiana. In this conversation, you’ll hear Okumura Roshi tell powerful stories, not only from his own life, but from […]
The post Shohaku Okumura Roshi: Stories from Modern Zen Masters appeared first on The Wisdom Experience.
For this episode of the Wisdom Podcast, host Daniel Aitken speaks with Norman Fischer, American poet, writer, and Soto Zen priest. Norman is the author of many popular books including his most recent publication, The World Could Be Otherwise: Imagination and the Bodhisattva Path. In this fascinating conversation, you’ll hear Norman share stories from his […]
The post Norman Fischer: A Poet’s Path to Awakening appeared first on The Wisdom Experience.
For this episode of the Wisdom Podcast, host Daniel Aitken speaks with Gil Fronsdal, American Buddhist writer, teacher, and scholar in both the Zen and Theravada traditions. Gil was ordained as a Sōtō Zen priest at the San Francisco Zen Center in 1982, and later became a Theravada monk in Burma in 1985. As someone […]
The post Gil Fronsdal: The Wisdom of Many Traditions appeared first on The Wisdom Experience.
For this episode of the Wisdom Podcast, host Daniel Aitken speaks with Daniel Goleman, acclaimed psychologist and author of several books including the international bestseller, Emotional Intelligence: Why It Can Matter More Than IQ. Daniel Goleman has written extensively on the connections between human psychology, science, and contemplative practice, as well as their practical applications […]
The post Daniel Goleman: The Mind and Meditation appeared first on The Wisdom Experience.
On this episode of the Wisdom Podcast, host Daniel Aitken speaks with Tara Brach, renowned meditation teacher, psychologist, and author of several bestselling books, including Radical Compassion: Learning to Love Yourself and Your World with the Practice of R.A.I.N; True Refuge: Finding Peace and Freedom in Your Own Awakened Heart; and Radical Acceptance: Embracing Your […]
The post Tara Brach: Radical Compassion appeared first on The Wisdom Experience.
For this episode of the Wisdom Podcast, host Daniel Aitken travels to New York to speak with Shechen Rabjam Rinpoche. Shechen Rabjam Rinpoche is the author of The Great Medicine, and grandson and spiritual heir of the great Tibetan master Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche. Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche was one of the foremost Tibetan Buddhist masters of […]
The post Shechen Rabjam Rinpoche: Spiritual Heir to a Tibetan Master appeared first on The Wisdom Experience.
In this episode of the Wisdom Podcast, host Daniel Aitken speaks with Larry Rosenberg, meditation teacher and founder of the Cambridge Insight Meditation Center, established in 1985. Larry is among the earliest pioneers of Buddhism in America. At 87, he has observed a great deal of American Buddhism’s growth and transformation in his forty years […]
The post Larry Rosenberg: Early Pioneer of Buddhism in the West appeared first on The Wisdom Experience.
In this episode of the Wisdom Podcast, host Daniel Aitken speaks with Koshin Paley Ellison, author of the wildly popular book, Whole-Hearted: Slow Down, Help Out, Wake Up, published by Wisdom. Koshin is co-founder of the New York Zen Center for Contemplative Care and a teacher in the Sōtō Zen Buddhist tradition. In this fascinating […]
The post Koshin Paley Ellison: How to Forgive appeared first on The Wisdom Experience.
For this episode of the Wisdom Podcast, host Daniel Aitken travels to Berkeley, California, to attend After Mindfulness, a two-day conference and retreat bringing together Buddhist practitioners from around the globe to ask the question what is mindfulness? At the conference, Daniel joins revered meditation teachers Ajahn Brahm and Shaila Catherine for a live panel […]
The post Ajahn Brahm and Shaila Catherine: Dialogue on the Deep States of Samadhi appeared first on The Wisdom Experience.
On this episode of the Wisdom Podcast, host Daniel Aitken travels to upstate New York to speak with Robert Thurman, pioneering scholar and translator in the Tibetan Buddhist world, and professor of Indo-Tibetan Buddhist Studies at Columbia University. Professor Thurman has long been recognized as a leading authority on Buddhist religion, culture, and philosophy. Since […]
The post Robert Thurman: The Practice of Deity Yoga appeared first on The Wisdom Experience.
In this episode of the Wisdom podcast, host Daniel Aitken travels to Berkeley, California, to speak with Venerable Ajahn Brahm, a meditation teacher in the Thai Forest tradition and author of many popular books including Falling Is Flying; The Art of Disappearing; and Mindfulness, Bliss, and Beyond. In this conversation, you’ll hear Ajahn Brahm talk […]
The post Ajahn Brahm: Letting Go, Stillness, and Vanishing appeared first on The Wisdom Experience.
For this episode of the Wisdom Podcast, host Daniel Aitken travels to Whidbey Island off the coast of Washington State to speak with Cyrus Stearns, independent scholar and translator in the Tibetan Buddhist tradition. Cyrus is the author of several books, including Taking the Result As the Path: Core Teachings of the Sakya Lamdré Tradition. […]
The post Cyrus Stearns: Translating for the Great Sakya Masters appeared first on The Wisdom Experience.
For this very special episode of the Wisdom Podcast, host Daniel Aitken speaks with His Holiness the Sakya Trizin, the 42nd throne holder of the Sakya school of Tibetan Buddhism. In this fascinating conversation, you’ll hear His Holiness talk about his childhood growing up in the prestigious Khön family of Tibet. It was the Khön […]
The post H. H. the Sakya Trizin: Preservation of the Dharma and the Sakya Tradition appeared first on The Wisdom Experience.
For this episode of the Wisdom Podcast, host Daniel Aitken speaks with Dr. Barry Magid, psychoanalyst, meditation teacher, and author of Nothing Is Hidden: The Psychology of Zen Koans. Since the 1970s, Barry has dedicated his life’s work to the integration of Western psychoanalytic psychology and Zen Buddhism. In this fascinating conversation, Barry describes his […]
The post Barry Magid: Psychologically Minded Zen appeared first on The Wisdom Experience.
For this episode of the Wisdom Podcast, host Daniel Aitken speaks with John Dunne, Distinguished Professor of Contemplative Humanities at the University of Wisconsin–Madison and author of Foundations of Dharmakīrti’s Philosophy, published by Wisdom. John’s research focuses on Buddhist philosophy in relationship to contemplative practice, religious studies, and cognitive science. In this rich conversation, John […]
The post John Dunne: Dharmakīrti, Perception, and Cognitive Science appeared first on The Wisdom Experience.
In this episode of the Wisdom Podcast, host Daniel Aitken speaks with Charles Hallisey, scholar and beloved professor at Harvard Divinity School. Professor Hallisey’s research centers on Theravada Buddhism in Sri Lanka and Southeast Asia, Pali language and literature, Buddhist ethics, and literature in Buddhist culture. His most recent book is Therigatha: Poems of the […]
The post Charles Hallisey: Reimagining Buddhist Scripture appeared first on The Wisdom Experience.
Since this is our official 75th episode of the Wisdom Podcast, we thought we would rebroadcast our very first episode in commemoration of this meaningful milestone here at Wisdom. For this special conversation, host Daniel Aitken traveled to Dharamsala, India, to meet with His Holiness the Karmapa, Ogyen Trinley Dorje, leader of the Karma Kagyu […]
The post H. H. Karmapa: Vegetarianism, Online Education and Nuns’ Ordination appeared first on The Wisdom Experience.
In this episode of the Wisdom Podcast, host Daniel Aitken speaks with Graham Coleman, editor and critically acclaimed filmmaker in the Tibetan Buddhist world. In this lively conversation, Graham shares fascinating stories from the making of his feature-length documentary, Tibet: A Buddhist Trilogy. An invaluable exploration of the sacred in Tibetan Buddhist culture, this extraordinary […]
The post Graham Coleman: Preserving Tibetan Culture in the Digital Age appeared first on The Wisdom Experience.
On this episode of the Wisdom Podcast, host Daniel Aitken speaks with Narayan Helen Liebenson, revered meditation teacher and author of The Magnanimous Heart, published by Wisdom. Narayan is a guiding teacher at the Insight Meditation Society in Barre, Massachusetts, as well as at the Cambridge Insight Meditation Center where she has taught since its […]
The post Narayan Helen Liebenson: The Immediacy of Freedom appeared first on The Wisdom Experience.
On this special Losar episode of the Wisdom Podcast, host Daniel Aitken travels to Kathmandu to speak with Chokyi Nyima Rinpoche, world-renowned teacher in the Tibetan Buddhist tradition and founder of the Rangjung Yeshe Institute in Nepal. In this special teaching, Rinpoche shares his past life memories and talks about his own experiences with the […]
The post Chokyi Nyima Rinpoche: Prioritizing Aspirations Along the Path appeared first on The Wisdom Experience.
In this episode of the Wisdom Podcast, host Daniel Aitken speaks with Alejandro Chaoul, scholar and practitioner in the Bön tradition of Tibet and teacher of tsa lung trul khor, the art of Tibetan yantra yoga. In Tibetan, tsa lung means “channels and winds” while trul khor translates as “magical movements.” Alejandro is a professor […]
The post Alejandro Chaoul: The Bön Tradition and the Art of Tibetan Yoga appeared first on The Wisdom Experience.
In this episode of the Wisdom Podcast, host Daniel Aitken speaks with Mark Van Buren, author of A Fool’s Guide to Actual Happiness, published by Wisdom. Mark is a specialist in mindful living, yoga, and meditation, and has been promoting health and wellness for over a decade. Beginning with a meditation class in high school, […]
The post Mark Van Buren: Actual Happiness appeared first on The Wisdom Experience.
In this episode of the Wisdom Podcast, host Daniel Aitken speaks with Sharon Salzberg, world-renowned meditation teacher and practitioner, and New York Times bestselling author. Sharon is also cofounder of the Insight Meditation Society in Barre Massachusetts, the first ever western meditation center established in the United States. In this episode, you’ll hear Sharon discuss […]
The post Sharon Salzberg: Loving-Kindness: More than Just a Concentration Practice appeared first on The Wisdom Experience.
In this episode, host Daniel Aitken speaks with Malcolm Smith, translator in the Tibetan Buddhist tradition and long-time practitioner of Dzogchen. In this rich conversation, Malcolm discusses one of the most influential texts in all of Tibetan Buddhism, the Seventeen Tantras of the Great Perfection. Malcolm shares the fascinating history of these eleventh-century teachings, and reads […]
The post Malcolm Smith: The Seventeen Tantras of the Great Perfection appeared first on The Wisdom Experience.
In this special episode of the Wisdom Podcast, we are joined by Wisdom Publications’ cofounder and spiritual director, Lama Zopa Rinpoche. Rinpoche is a Tibetan Buddhist scholar and meditator who for 30 years has overseen the spiritual activities of the extensive worldwide network of centers, projects and services that form the Foundation for the Preservation of the Mahayana […]
The post Lama Zopa Rinpoche: Foundations for the Flourishing of Dharma in the West appeared first on The Wisdom Experience.
On this episode of the Wisdom Podcast, host Daniel Aitken speaks with Christopher Ives, scholar and practitioner in the Zen Buddhist tradition, and author of Zen on the Trail: Hiking as Pilgrimage, recently published by Wisdom. Chris specializes in modern Zen ethics, as well as Buddhist considerations of nature. In this conversation, you’ll hear Chris […]
The post Christopher Ives: Zen, Ethics, and the Wildness of Nature appeared first on The Wisdom Experience.
On this episode of the Wisdom Podcast, host Daniel Aitken speaks with Janet Gyatso, renowned scholar and professor of Buddhist Studies at Harvard University. Janet is the author of several publications on the cultural and intellectual history of Tibetan Buddhism, including her award-winning book on the history of Tibetan medicine in early modern Tibet, Being […]
The post Janet Gyatso: Tibetan Buddhism, Animal Ethics and Compassion appeared first on The Wisdom Experience.
On this episode of the Wisdom Podcast, host Daniel Aitken speaks with David Nichtern, celebrated musician and senior teacher in the lineage of renowned Tibetan Buddhist meditation master Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche. David is also author of Awakening from the Daydream, published by Wisdom. In this fascinating conversation, you’ll hear Daniel and David discuss the idea of […]
The post David Nichtern: Mantra and the Power of Pure Sound appeared first on The Wisdom Experience.
On this episode of the Wisdom Podcast, host Daniel Aitken speaks with Elizabeth Mattis Namgyel, meditation teacher and practitioner in the Tibetan Buddhist tradition, and author of The Logic of Faith: the Buddhist Path of Finding Certainty Beyond Belief and Doubt. In this rich conversation, you’ll hear Elizabeth speak about her spiritual curiosity as a child and […]
The post Elizabeth Mattis Namgyel: On Faith and Dependent Arising appeared first on The Wisdom Experience.
On this episode of the Wisdom Podcast, host Daniel Aitken travels to Montreal to speak with Thupten Jinpa, scholar and former monk in the Tibetan Buddhist tradition, and primary English translator to His Holiness the Dalai Lama since 1985. In this rich conversation, Jinpa describes his intellectual training at Shartse College of Ganden Monastic University in […]
The post Thupten Jinpa: Translating for His Holiness the Dalai Lama appeared first on The Wisdom Experience.
In this episode of the Wisdom Podcast, host Daniel Aitken speaks with Lama Tsultrim Allione, teacher in the Tibetan Buddhist tradition, and author of Wisdom Rising: Journey into the Mandala of the Empowered Feminine. Lama Tsultrim is also founder and spiritual director of Tara Mandala Retreat Center in southern Colorado. In this rich conversation, you’ll […]
The post Lama Tsultrim Allione: Path of the Sacred Feminine appeared first on The Wisdom Experience.
In this episode of the Wisdom Podcast, host Daniel Aitken speaks with Geshe Tashi Tsering, a teacher in the Tibetan Buddhist tradition who was recently appointed abbot of Sera Mey Monastery by His Holiness the Dalai Lama. In this episode, you’ll hear Geshe Tashi share stories from his scholastic journey—from his early years at Sera […]
The post Geshe Tashi Tsering: From Monk to Abbot at Sera Mey Monastery appeared first on The Wisdom Experience.
In this episode of the Wisdom Podcast, host Daniel Aitken speaks with Bhikkhu Anālayo, prolific writer and scholar of early Buddhist thought, and author of Rebirth in Early Buddhism and Current Research, recently published by Wisdom. As part of a special live event, Daniel is joined by Professor Charles Hallisey of Harvard Divinity School as they speak […]
The post Bhikkhu Anālayo: Rebirth in Early Buddhism appeared first on The Wisdom Experience.
In this episode of the Wisdom Podcast, Daniel Aitken speaks with H. E. Dza Kilung Rinpoche, revered teacher in the Nyingma school of Tibetan Buddhism, and head of Kilung Monastery in East Tibet. Kilung Rinpoche was discovered as a reincarnation of H. H. Jigme Ngotsar Gyatso, a yogi who built Kilung Monastery in the eighteenth century. Jigme […]
The post H. E. Dza Kilung Rinpoche: Jigme Lingpa and the Longchen Nyingtik Tradition appeared first on The Wisdom Experience.
In this episode of the Wisdom Podcast, Daniel Aitken speaks with Dr. Sonam Thakchoe, professor of Buddhist philosophy at the University of Tasmania and former monk in the Tibetan Buddhist tradition. Sonam was a child during the Cultural Revolution in Tibet. At just ten years old, Sonam fled to India with his father, where he […]
The post Sonam Thakchoe: In the Laboratory of Meditation appeared first on The Wisdom Experience.
In this episode of the Wisdom Podcast, Daniel speaks with Dr. Richard Salomon, Professor of Asian Languages and Literature at the University of Washington and a leading figure in the field of early Buddhist studies. You’ll hear Richard discuss his groundbreaking scholarship in the field of ancient Gāndhārī literature. His new book, The Buddhist Literature of Ancient Gandhāra, is a […]
The post Richard Salomon: Early Buddhism in Ancient Gandhāra appeared first on The Wisdom Experience.
In this episode of the Wisdom Podcast, we meet Karl Brunnhölzl, celebrated teacher, translator, and author in the Tibetan Buddhist tradition. Originally trained as a medical doctor, Karl practiced medicine for twenty years before dedicating his life full-time to translation of Tibetan Buddhist texts. You’ll hear Karl share stories of his early ventures throughout Asia […]
The post Karl Brunnhölzl: Stories of Translation and Transformation appeared first on The Wisdom Experience.
In this episode of the Wisdom Podcast, we meet Dungse Jampal Norbu, Dharma teacher in the Nyingma school of Tibetan Buddhism and son of the revered Dzigar Kongtrul Rinpoche. Dungse was raised in a Tibetan-American family in Colorado. At the instruction of Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche, Dungse’s father set him on a path to uphold and […]
The post Dungse Jampal Norbu: A New Generation of American Buddhists appeared first on The Wisdom Experience.
In this episode of the Wisdom Podcast, Daniel Aitken speaks with Dr. Karen Derris, scholar of South and Southeast Asian Buddhist traditions and Professor of Religious Studies at the University of Redlands. In recent years, Karen had the rare opportunity of working one-on-one with His Holiness the Karmapa as an editor of his book, Interconnected: […]
The post Karen Derris: A Professor and Her Students Engage H. H. the Karmapa appeared first on The Wisdom Experience.
In this episode of the Wisdom Podcast, recorded with a live audience, Daniel Aitken speaks with Tulku Dakpa Rinpoche, revered teacher in the Nyingma school of Tibetan Buddhism and founder of the Danakosha Dharma Center in Finland. Tulku Dakpa Rinpoche was recognized by His Holiness Mindrolling Trichen Rinpoche as a reincarnation of Drupwang Rogza Sonam […]
The post Tulku Dakpa Rinpoche: Lineage and Transmission in the Nyingma Tradition appeared first on The Wisdom Experience.
In this episode of the Wisdom Podcast, Daniel Aitken speaks with Ani Choying Drolma, Tibetan Buddhist nun from Nepal and internationally renowned singer of both traditional and contemporary Tibetan song. Ani-la is also founder of multiple nonprofits in Nepal, such as the Arya Tara School, which promotes the equality, education, and welfare of Nepalese Buddhist […]
The post Ani Choying Drolma: A Voice for Nepalese Buddhist Nuns appeared first on The Wisdom Experience.
In this episode of the Wisdom Podcast, Daniel travels to Tsechen Kunchab Ling in upstate New York to speak with His Holiness the Sakya Trichen Rinpoche, the 41st throne holder of the Sakya school of Tibetan Buddhism. You’ll hear His Holiness share insights from the first volume of his book Freeing the Heart and Mind, as well as […]
The post H. H. the Sakya Trichen: Learning from the Lives of Great Masters appeared first on The Wisdom Experience.
In this episode of the Wisdom Podcast we meet Bhante Gunaratana, renowned meditation teacher, Buddhist monk, and author of the now-classic Mindfulness in Plain English, published by Wisdom. Born in Sri Lanka, Bhante Gunaratana was ordained at the age of twelve in the Theravada tradition. In this episode, we hear “Bhante G” (as he is […]
The post Bhante Gunaratana: A Special Teaching on Mindfulness appeared first on The Wisdom Experience.
In this episode of the Wisdom podcast, we hear from Rev. Sumi Loundon Kim, Buddhist chaplain at Duke University, and author of Sitting Together: A Family-Centered Curriculum on Mindfulness, Meditation, and Buddhist Teaching. In this episode, Sumi shares many insights on the cultivation of mindfulness in children. Raised in a Sōtō Zen meditation community in rural New Hampshire, Sumi […]
The post Sumi Loundon Kim: Mindfulness for the Whole Family appeared first on The Wisdom Experience.
In this episode of the Wisdom Podcast we meet Jan Westerhoff, professor of Buddhist philosophy at the University of Oxford and specialist in the Madhyamaka philosophical tradition. In this episode, Jan shares how his early studies in Indian and Tibetan Buddhist philosophy eventually led to a PhD in contemporary metaphysics, before leading to a second PhD on […]
The post Jan Westerhoff: Nāgārjuna and Madhyamaka appeared first on The Wisdom Experience.
In this episode of the Wisdom podcast, we hear from Barbara Bonner, author of Inspiring Generosity and Inspiring Courage, both published by Wisdom. Barbara has dedicated her career to nonprofit management, fundraising and philanthropy. You’ll hear the ways her professional life has been deeply informed by experiences as a Buddhist practitioner, and likewise, how exposure to philanthropy has […]
The post Barbara Bonner: Reimagining Courage and Generosity appeared first on The Wisdom Experience.
In this episode of the Wisdom Podcast we hear from Josh Korda, Dharma teacher in the Against the Stream lineage, guiding teacher of Dharmapunx NYC, and author of Unsubscribe: Opt out of Delusion, Tune into Truth, recently published by Wisdom. You’ll hear Josh share his navigation through the difficult emotional realities of his youth, and […]
The post Josh Korda: Honoring Transparency and Disclosure appeared first on The Wisdom Experience.
In this episode, we hear from Dzigar Kongtrul Rinpoche, a Tibetan Buddhist teacher of the Longchen Nyingtik tradition and founder of Mangala Shri Bhuti. Raised in a religious family in northern India, Rinpoche was deeply influenced by both his parents. His mother was a highly revered practitioner of the Nyingma tradition, while his father was recognized as […]
The post Dzigar Kongtrul Rinpoche: In Praise of Spiritual Teachers appeared first on The Wisdom Experience.
In this episode of the Wisdom Podcast we meet Malcolm Smith, translator of the core Dzogchen text Buddhahood in This Life, recently published by Wisdom Publications. This inspired translation of the Great Commentary of Vimalamitra offers insights into one of the earliest and most influential texts in the Dzogchen tradition of Tibetan Buddhism. We sat down with […]
The post Malcolm Smith: Translating Dzogchen Texts appeared first on The Wisdom Experience.
In this episode of the Wisdom Podcast Daniel Aitken traveled to Dharamsala, India to meet Geshema Kelsang Wangmo, a German-born nun who in 2011 made history by being the first woman to receive the prestigious geshe degree among Tibetan Buddhists. She shares with us extraordinary experiences in her scholastic journey, from the challenges she experienced […]
The post Geshema Kelsang Wangmo: Becoming the First Female Geshe appeared first on The Wisdom Experience.
In this episode we meet His Eminence Zurmang Gharwang Rinpoche, lineage holder of the Zurmang Kagyu tradition of Tibetan Buddhism. Rinpoche shares with us captivating stories of how he was recognized as the reincarnation of the previous Zurmang Gharwang Rinpoche by H. H. the 16th Karmapa even before he was born, and he tells us what […]
The post H. E. the 12th Zurmang Gharwang Rinpoche: The History of the Zurmang Kagyu Tradition appeared first on The Wisdom Experience.
In this episode we meet Dr. Joanne Cacciatore, Zen priest and leader in the field of traumatic grief. We explore with Joanne her path to Buddhism and her work with the bereaved. She tells us how encounters with animals like her rescue horse, Chemakoh, have helped her open both to her grief and to compassion. […]
The post Joanne Cacciatore: Bearing the Unbearable appeared first on The Wisdom Experience.
In this special taping of the Wisdom Podcast in front of a live audience at Harvard Divinity School, renowned Tibetan Buddhist teacher Lama Alan Wallace explores with us the benefits of shamatha practice for leading a balanced life. Recorded as part of his Wisdom Academy course, Shamatha: Meditation for Balanced Living, Lama Alan shares with […]
The post Lama Alan Wallace: Meditation for Balanced Living appeared first on The Wisdom Experience.
In advance of the Tsadra Foundation’s Translation and Transmission Conference we spoke with Marcus Perman, Director of Research for Tsadra, an organization dedicated to advancing the combined study and practice of Tibetan Buddhism. Marcus tells us about how he came to his role after studying Eastern and Western philosophy, traveling in Tibet and the Himalayas, and attending an early translator’s conference as an aspiring translator. He shares with us Tsadra’s unique role in applying strategic philanthropy to the Tibetan Buddhist community sponsoring scholars, meditators, and translators of all schools, and how this has had an impact on the transmission of Dharma in the West.
The post Marcus Perman: Translation and Transmission of Tibetan Buddhism in the West appeared first on The Wisdom Experience.
Discover one man’s experience of integrating Zen teachings into everyday life through decades of koan practice. In this episode of the Wisdom Podcast we meet Ross Bolleter Roshi, Zen author and teacher in the Diamond Sangha lineage. Ross shares with us stories from his many years of practice and study, beginning with how he met and became a student of Robert Aitken in the early 1980s. We hear how Aitken gave Ross his first koan to practice and eventually, together with John Tarrant, gave him transmission. Ross also discusses the relationship between koan practice and kenshō, and he shares how koan practice can transform one’s life over many years. Finally, we hear about his forthcoming book on Western koans, Crow Flies Backwards.
The post Ross Bolleter: The Intimacy of Zen Koan Practice appeared first on The Wisdom Experience.
Hear about one man’s powerful encounters with Dzogchen masters and his memories of facilitating the famous meeting of Thomas Merton with the Dalai Lama and other notable Tibetan lamas. In this episode of the Wisdom Podcast we meet Harold Talbott, long-time Dharma practitioner and editor for esteemed teacher Tulku Thondup. Harold tells us his fascinating journey in the Dharma, including how he initially met the Dalai Lama in India in the mid 1960s and became his student. He also shares with us many of his extraordinary encounters with Tibetan Buddhist teachers over the decades like Chatral Rinpoche, Dodrupchen Rinpoche, and Tulku Thondup Rinpoche. Harold then tells us how he came to facilitate the meeting of famed Catholic theologian and writer Thomas Merton with the Dalai Lama in 1968, and then accompanied Merton throughout his trip to India meeting several accomplished Tibetan lamas during the final weeks of his life.
The post Harold Talbott: Remembering Thomas Merton’s Encounters with the Dalai Lama appeared first on The Wisdom Experience.
Discover the powerful teachings on philosophy and faith woven into the classical stories of early Buddhism. In this episode of the Wisdom Podcast we meet Andy Rotman, professor of religion and Buddhist studies at Smith College and chief editor for Wisdom’s Classics of Indian Buddhism series. An expert in the field of Buddhist literature, Andy shares with us the important role of narratives in monastic and lay life in South Asia, and how they were used to cultivate wisdom and compassion. We also hear some of Andy’s favorite tales from his translations of Divine Stories (Divyāvadāna), one of the most important collections of ancient Buddhist narratives. Find out what to expect in the second volume of his translations—Divine Stories, Part 2.
The post Andy Rotman: The Divine Stories of Early Buddhism appeared first on The Wisdom Experience.