Episodes

Dec 12

December 11, 2025 Please enjoy our special prerecorded episode of Wisdom Dharma Chats featuring Tenzin Choegyal . Tenzin stopped by the Wisdom Studio in advance of the release of his newest album, Be The Sky , digital album available now on Bandcamp . Tenzin’s music is a staple across various Wisdom Publications media. In this episode, hosted by Daniel Aitken, Tenzin recounts his experience of integrating music into his spiritual practice. Go behind the scenes as he discusses his process of creating music and collaborating with other artists, including Philip Glass, with whom he collaborated on Be The Sky . Tenzin also shares how his parents influenced his journey in music, such as his mother’s chanting and his father’s flute playing. Explore the link between cultural roots, spiritual practice, and musical expression on one’s life in this captivating conversation. SHOW LINKS Learn more about Tenzin Choegyal and his music at https://www.tenzinchoegyal.com/ Bring home your copy of Be The Sky at https://tenzinchoegyal.bandcamp.com/album/be-the-sky Meet Our Guest Tenzin Choegyal Tenzin Choegyal is one of the world’s finest musicians in the Tibetan tradition. As a son of Tibetan nomads, he feels a particular connection to the music of the high Himalayan plateau. In a career spanning 20+ years Tenzin has performed at festivals across Australia and curated numerous events and concerts including Brisbane’s annual Festival of Tibet. Internationally he has performed in New Zealand, Japan, India, Germany, Bangladesh, Russia and USA, including performances at New York’s Carnegie Hall. He has also opened many of His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s Public Talks in Australia, New Zealand and Japan with his musical offerings. While proudly continuing the unbroken nomadic lineage which is central to his repertoire, Tenzin also embraces opportunities to take his music into more contemporary, uncharted territory, both in the studio and on stage. Tenzin has nine independent albums, three of them with his fusion band Tibet2Timbuk2, and regularly performs with Camerata Brisbane’s acclaimed Chamber Orchestra. His collaborative albums include The Last Dalai Lama with Philip Glass, Peradam album by Soundwalk Collective with Patti Smith featuring Anoushka Shankar & Charlotte Gainsbourh and the 2021 Grammy-nominated Songs from the Bardo released through Smithsonian Folkways with his longtime friend and collaborator Jesse Paris Smith and Laurie Anderson – a moving interpretation of the Tibetan Book of the Dead. Bio courtesy of https://www.tenzinchoegyal.com/tenzin/bio The post Wisdom Dharma Chat | Tenzin Choegyal – December 2025 appeared first on The Wisdom Experience .

Dec 6

In this episode of The Wisdom Podcast , host Daniel Aitken is joined by David M. DiValerio . Join David and Daniel as they discuss David’s newest book, Mountain Dharma: Meditative Retreat and the Tibetan Ascetic Self . David shares his journey into Tibetan Buddhist studies, as well as his experiences and research on Tibetan retreats over the years. They also discuss: the historical context and modern adaptations of retreat practices; the differences between solitary, individual, and community retreat practice; the challenges of translating ancient texts; and much more! Wisdom Podcast listeners are invited to save 20% off Mountain Dharma with code CUP20 . Code valid when purchased from Columbia University Press . The views and opinions expressed on this program are those of the speakers and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of Wisdom Publications or any entities they represent. The post David M. DiValerio: Mountain Dharma (#221) appeared first on The Wisdom Experience .

Nov 22

In this episode of The Wisdom Podcast , previously recorded as a Wisdom Dharma Chat , host Daniel Aitken is joined by Brendan Barca and Pema Sherpa . Join the trio as they discuss Brendan and Pema’s new book, The Daily Buddhist . The conversation explores their approach of making dharma applicable to everyday life in the modern world and how they manage various challenges, such as balancing technology use and family time. Stressing the importance of persistence, self-compassion, and using mindfulness as a tool for personal growth and lasting happiness. In this episode, Brendan, Pema, and Daniel also discuss: The importance of teamwork in their personal and professional lives; how to integrate dharma into your daily life; using meditation to connect to your inner self; and much more! Mentioned in this episode: Instagram: @daily.buddhist Learn more about Pema and Brendan’s newsletter, and get your copy of The Daily Buddhist at thedailybuddhist.net The views and opinions expressed on this program are those of the speakers and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of Wisdom Publications or any entities they represent. The post Brendan Barca and Pema Sherpa: The Daily Buddhist (#220) appeared first on The Wisdom Experience .

Nov 13

In this episode , host Daniel Aitken is joined by Dasho Karma Ura. Dasho Karma Ura has a Bachelor of Arts from Oxford University, a Master of Philosophy from Edinburgh, and a PhD from Nagoya University. He was awarded the red scarf and the ancient title of distinction, Dasho, by His Majesty the Fourth King in 2006 for his dedicated service to the country of Bhutan. He was a member of the Drafting Committee of Bhutan’s first Constitution in 2008 and became president of the Centre for Bhutan Studies and Gross National Happiness Research. He is a painter and author of many books, including Bhutan: The Unremembered Nation – Volumes 1 & 2 . In 2010, he was bestowed the honour of Druk Khorlo (Wheel of Dragon Kingdom) by His Majesty the King for his contributions to literature and fine arts. In this episode, Dasho Karma and Daniel explore the study and influence of Gross National Happiness, a philosophy pioneered in Bhutan by His Majesty the Fourth King, in which a government prioritizes national happiness over economic growth. In this episode, Dasho Karma and Daniel also discuss: Buddhist ideals shaping Bhutanese culture; Language and cultural preservation; National happiness and collective well-being; Craft and virtue in Buddhist practice; The life and art of Yeshe Tsogyal ; and much more! The views and opinions expressed on this program are those of the speakers and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of Wisdom Publications or any entities they represent. The post Dasho Karma Ura: The Pursuit of Happiness in Bhutan (#219) appeared first on The Wisdom Experience .

Oct 25

This episode, recorded live as a Wisdom Dharma Chat , welcomes back His Eminence Khangser Rinpoche . At five years of age, a search party positively identified him as the reincarnation of the seventh Khangser Rinpoche. He is one of three high lamas responsible for recognizing the rebirth of the spiritual leader of Tibet, His Holiness the Dalai Lama. He presently serves as vice abbot of Gyuto Monastery and as the founder and administrative head of Thangkar Dechen Choling Monastic Institute. He is the author of A Monk’s Guide to Finding Joy . Join Rinpoche and host Daniel Aitken as they explore the concept of Buddha-nature, challenges of distraction in the digital age, and the enduring resilience of the Dharma across generations. In this episode, Rinpoche and Daniel also discuss: the Sutra and Tantra approaches to mental afflictions; selflessness as the ultimate antidote to the cause of anger; the importance of analytical meditation; the debate on emptiness and existence; and much more! The views and opinions expressed on this program are those of the speakers and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of Wisdom Publications or any entities they represent. The post H. E. Khangser Rinpoche: Buddha-Nature and Beyond (#218) appeared first on The Wisdom Experience .

Oct 11

In this episode, previously recorded as a Wisdom Dharma Chat , host Daniel Aitken welcomes back Lama Alan Wallace to discuss the newest release, Śamatha and Vipaśyanā: An Anthology of Pith Instructions . Lama Alan trained for many years as a monk in Buddhist monasteries in India and Switzerland. He has taught Buddhist theory and practice in Europe and America since 1976 and has served as interpreter for numerous Tibetan scholars and contemplatives, including H. H. the Dalai Lama. He has edited, translated, authored, and contributed to more than forty books on Tibetan Buddhism, medicine, language, and culture, and the interface between science and religion. He is also the founder of the Center for Contemplative Research (CCR), which now has retreat center locations in Crestone, Colorado, and in Castellina Marittima, Italy. This conversation delves into Lama Alan’s journey in Tibetan Buddhism, the teachings he received from his gurus, and the path to achieving irreversible transformation through the cultivation of bodhicitta and śamatha meditation. They discuss the complementarity of Western science’s technological advances and Buddhist contemplative practices, highlighting the value of genuine mental cultivation in addressing modern challenges. In this episode, Lama Alan and Daniel also discuss: the significance of the recently released volume Śamatha and Vipaśyanā ; Lama Alan’s early inspirations and teachings with Geshe Ngawang Dhargyey; Western and Eastern perspectives on the mind; the need for a revolution in understanding the mind; and much more! This is part 1 of a two-part series on the release of this volume. Be sure to check out part two featuring fellow Eva Natanya, coming soon to The Wisdom Podcast . Wisdom Podcast listeners are invited to save 20% off Śamatha and Vipaśyanā with code WPODSV through November 15 . The views and opinions expressed on this program are those of the speakers and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of Wisdom Publications or any entities they represent. The post Lama Alan Wallace: Śamatha and Vipaśyanā: Part 1 (#217) appeared first on The Wisdom Experience .

Sep 30

In this episode, host Daniel Aitken is joined by special guest Anu Gupta . Anu is an award-winning author, educator, lawyer, scientist, and meditation teacher. He holds a JD from NYU Law, an MPhil in Development Studies from Cambridge, and a BA in International Relations and Islamic Studies from NYU. He is the founder and CEO of BE MORE with Anu , a learning and development organization that supports individuals and organizations foster trust, safety, and belonging. He is a proud polyspiritual Hindu-Buddhist-Christian and a dedicated yoga and meditation practitioner. His bestselling book, Breaking Bias: Where Stereotypes and Prejudices Come From and the Science-Backed Method to Unravel Them , features a foreword from His Holiness the Dalai Lama and offers tools to awaken humans to their interdependence and cultivate the wisdom and compassion needed to transcend bias, exclusion, and othering. His work has reached over 300 organizations, training more than 100,000 professionals and impacting 30 million lives. In this episode, Anu and Daniel discuss: Anu’s bestselling book Breaking Bias ; his early encounters with spirituality and his childhood in India; his cultural and spiritual observations and his struggles with his own identity in America; mystical experiences, mental health, and his personal journey of self-discovery; the concept of race, bias, and human connection; tools to help overcome bias in today’s world; and so much more! Mentioned in this episode: BEMOREwithAnu.com Substack: @anuguptany Note to our listeners : This episode contains the description of a mystical experience that some listeners may find upsetting. If you would prefer to avoid this part of the conversation, please skip from minutes 31:02 to 34:54 . If you or someone you love are in crisis, please call, text, or chat with the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline at 988 , or contact the Crisis Text Line by texting TALK to 741741 . International listeners, please visit The International Association for Suicide Prevention to find crisis care in your region. The post Anu Gupta: Breaking Bias (#216) appeared first on The Wisdom Experience .

Sep 19

In this episode of The Wisdom Podcast , join special guest Venerable Matthieu Ricard and host Daniel Aitken as they tackle the intersection of science and Buddhism. Venerable Ricard is a Buddhist monk, author, translator, and photographer. After completing his Ph.D. in cell genetics in 1972, he moved to the Himalayas, where he spent many years in the presence of Kangyur Rinpoche and Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche. He has published numerous books, including The Monk and the Philosopher , Happiness , Altruism , and Notebooks of a Wandering Monk . He donates all proceeds from his books and activities to support humanitarian projects in India, Nepal, and Tibet through Karuna-Shechen , the non-profit organization he founded in 2000, which now benefits 500,000+ people every year. In this episode, Venerable Ricard and Daniel discuss: Venerable’s early influences and inspirations, and his introduction to Buddhism; his time with Kangyur Rinpoche and Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche; the nature of consciousness; the importance of setting achievable goals, the role of consistency and discipline in achieving those goals, and how self-reflection can guide continuous improvement; and so much more! Mentioned in this episode: Mind and Life Institute Film: The Message of the Tibetans The post Venerable Matthieu Ricard: Presence, Insight, and Compassion: A Guide to Happiness (#215) appeared first on The Wisdom Experience .

Sep 5

This episode of the Wisdom Podcast , recorded live as a Wisdom Dharma Chat , features the return of special guest Rangjung Neljorma Khandro Tseringma Rinpoche . Experience this heartfelt discussion aiming to alleviate fears, delve into the nature of interdependence, the power of connecting with a teacher, and so much more. Join Khandro Rinpoche and host Daniel Aitken and reflect on how all experiences—joyful and painful alike—arise through the web of dependent origination. Learn how compassion, when grounded in reality, can open a path to happiness and escape suffering through wisdom. In this episode, Rinpoche and Daniel explore: bodhichitta; dependent origination and emptiness; the importance of presence and the role teachers play in Dharma practice; so much more! Learn more about Khandro Rinpoche and her upcoming teachings at khandroling.org The post Rangjung Neljorma Khandro Tseringma Rinpoche: Presence, Insight, and Compassion: A Guide to Happiness (#214) appeared first on The Wisdom Experience .

Aug 29

In this episode, join James B. Apple and host Daniel Aitken as they celebrate James’s newest release, Atiśa’s Stages Of The Path To Awakening . James is Professor of Buddhist Studies at the University of Calgary. His current research focuses on the critical analysis of Mahāyāna sūtras and topics within Indian and Tibetan Buddhist scholasticism. He has published over fifty peer-reviewed articles in international academic journals as well as numerous books, including Jewels Of The Middle Way , also by Wisdom Publications. In this episode, James and Daniel explore: the concept of clear light and the integration of meditative traditions in Indian and Tibetan Buddhism; the history of Atisa’s lamrims and the significance of the text, Stages Of The Path to Awakening ; the historical context leading to the text’s near disappearance and later rediscovery; and so much more! Wisdom Podcast listeners are invited to save 20% off Atiśa’s Stages Of The Path To Awakening with code WPODATISA through September 30, 2025 . The post James Apple: Atiśa’s Stages Of The Path To Awakening (#213) appeared first on The Wisdom Experience .

Aug 1

This episode, recorded live as a Wisdom Dharma Chat features special guest, Mark Siderits . In this episode hosted by Daniel Aiken, Mark embarks on an illuminating conversation surrounding Buddhist philosophy. They discuss the structure and content of his two online courses— Buddhism as Philosophy: Non-self and Reality and Buddhism as Philosophy: Yogācāra and Madhyamaka . From there, they dive into the concept of emptiness and how the Abhidharma, Madhyamaka, and Yogācāra traditions each approach it. Mark studied at the University of Hawaii and Yale, has taught extensively, and authored several books on Asian and Western philosophy. In this episode, Mark and Daniel also discuss: key concepts in Buddhist philosophy such as reflexive awareness and emptiness; the concept of emptiness in Buddhist philosophy ; the divide between Yogācāra and Madhyamaka ; and much more! Additional content mentioned in this episode: Buddhism as Philosophy Nāgārjuna’s Middle Way Wisdom Podcast listeners are invited to save 20% off Buddhism as Philosophy: Yogācāra and Madhyamaka with code WPODBAP2 through August 31, 2025 . The post Mark Siderits: Buddhism as Philosophy: Part 2 (#212) appeared first on The Wisdom Experience .

Jul 25

This episode, recorded live as a Wisdom Dharma Chat, features special guest Sarah Harding . Join Sarah and Daniel Aitken as they discuss Sarah’s newest release with Wisdom Severance: The Early Practice of Chö . Together, they explore how chö (severance)—an ancient Tibetan Buddhist practice—guides us to confront our deepest fears, cut through ego-clinging, and realize the mind’s innate clarity. You’ll also hear Daniel and Sarah discuss: the role of fear in chö practice; motherhood and feminine imagery in chö ; various scientific approaches to mindfulness; her time in a three-year retreat and her journey translating sacred texts ; and much more! Wisdom Podcast listeners are invited to save 20% off Severance: The Early Practice of Chö with code WPODCHO through August 31, 2025. The post Sarah Harding: Severance (#211) appeared first on The Wisdom Experience .

Jul 19

This episode of the Wisdom Podcast , recorded live as a Wisdom Dharma Chat , is presented in collaboration with Tergar International and Tibet House US , featuring special guests Yongey Mingyur Rinpoche and Robert Thurman . In this special episode, Yongey Mingyur Rinpoche and Professor Robert Thurman come together for a rich and wide-ranging conversation on the practical application of Buddhist teachings in everyday life. With clarity, warmth, and humor, they explore tantric practice, the nature of Buddha’s potential, and the central role of meditation in transforming the mind. This episode concludes with a guided meditation from Rinpoche. Listen as Rinpoche and Professor Thurman, along with host Daniel Aiken, discuss: Buddha nature and the role and value of meditation in everyday life; the modern misunderstanding of Buddhism; the importance of compassion; Buddhism’s place in the future of AI; and much more! Meet Our Guests Yongey Mingyur Rinpoche Mingyur Rinpoche is a world-renowned meditation teacher with personal experience of anxiety and panic attacks, which he suffered from throughout his childhood and into his teenage years, when he learned to transform his panic through meditation. Born in Nepal in 1975, Mingyur Rinpoche began to study meditation as a young boy with his father, Tulku Urgyen Rinpoche, himself a well-respected Buddhist teacher. As a child he became interested in contemporary science through conversations with scientists who were visiting his father, and as he grew older he began to collaborate with neuroscientists and psychologists, including Richard Davidson and Antoine Lutz at the University of Wisconsin, on research projects that study the effects of meditation on the brain and the mind. As the head of the Tergar Meditation Community, Mingyur Rinpoche supports groups of students in more than thirty countries, leading workshops around the world for new and returning students every year. Robert Thurman Bob Thurman, known in the academic circles as Professor Robert A.F. Thurman, is a talented popularizer of the Buddha’s teachings and the first Westerner Tibetan Buddhist monk ordained by His Holiness the Dalai Lama, A charismatic speaker and author of many books on Tibet, Buddhism, art, politics and culture, Bob was named by The New York Times the leading American expert on Tibetan Buddhism, and was awarded the prestigious Padma Shri Award in 2020, for his help in recovering India’s ancient Buddhist heritage. Time Magazine chose him as one of the 25 most influential Americans in 1997, describing him as a “larger than life scholar-activist destined to convey the Dharma, the precious teachings of Shakyamuni Buddha, from Asia to America.” As part of his long-term commitment to the Tibetan cause, at the request of H.H. the Dalai Lama, Bob co-founded Tibet House US in 1987 with Tenzin Tethong, Richard Gere, and Philip Glass, a non profit organization based in New York City and dedicated to the preservation and renaissance of Tibetan culture. The post Yongey Mingyur Rinpoche And Robert Thurman: Buddhism in Daily Life in Conversation with Two Great Masters (#210) appeared first on The Wisdom Experience .

Jun 21

In this episode, Cortland Dahl and Daniel Aitken discuss Cortland’s book A Meditator’s Guide to Buddhism . As an author and translator, Cortland has published numerous scientific articles and works on Buddhist philosophy and meditation. He is actively involved in scientific research and has published articles on the impact of meditation practices on the body, mind, and brain. They explore crucial themes such as the integration of meditation, view, and application in daily life, and explores concepts like naturalness, spontaneity, and the innate qualities of awareness, compassion, and wisdom. You’ll also hear Cortland and Daniel discuss: the scientific perspective on meditation; various scientific approaches to mindfulness; the challenges related to measuring mindfulness; the concept of being vs. doing and how to integrate being into daily life; and much more! Mentioned in this episode: Center for Healthy Minds The post Cortland Dahl: A Meditator’s Guide to Buddhism (#209) appeared first on The Wisdom Experience .

Jun 6

Join Alejandro Chaoul , Richard Freeman , Mary Taylor , and host Daniel Aitken as they discuss their different traditions of yoga and how they relate to meditation. Listen as they provide insights into their yoga traditions, emphasizing historical dialogue between the traditions and shared practices. They touch on practical meditation tips, integrating the body into mindfulness, and much more! You’ll also hear Daniel and our guests discuss: how they each became interested in their version of yoga; the power of Yoga to teach us stillness; how to improve our relationship with space; the Wisdom Academy course Yoga for Meditators ; and much more! Wisdom Podcast listeners receive a 20% discount on Yoga For Meditators WPODY4M through July 5th. About the Interviewees Dr. Alejandro Chaoul is dedicated to educating individuals and communities about the ancient practice of Tibetan yoga and its transformative power to enhance physical, emotional, and spiritual well-being. He serves as the scholar and founding director of the Jung Center’s Mind Body Spirit Institute (MBSI) and holds a doctoral degree in religious studies from Rice University. For the last thirty years Ale has studied with many Tibetan teachers in India, Nepal, and the United States. Since 1995, he has taught Tibetan meditation and yogic practices under the auspices of Ligmincha International across the United States, Latin America, and Europe. Richard Freeman has been a student of yoga since 1968. He spent nine years in Asia studying yoga āsana, prāṇāyāma, Sufism, Sanskrit language, and Indian philosophy. He has studied asana with B.K.S. Iyengar and K. Pattabhi Jois and has worked with numerous Buddhist teachers to draw insights into the interfacing of Buddhism and yoga as a reflection of life. Richard’s metaphorical, humorous, teaching style appeals to students of many backgrounds and nationalities. Mary Taylor began studying yoga in 1971 and her studies have grown into a deep interest into how yoga asana, meditation, and the interfacing of yoga with Buddhism combine to support us through complex modern times. Her main asana practice is in the internal forms of the ashtanga vinyasa tradition. She is part of the core faculty of the Being with Dying program at Upaya Zen Center and the senior faculty for the UZIT training program, both of which apply contemplative practices to improved and sustainable wellness within medical settings. The post Alejandro Chaoul, Richard Freeman, and Mary Taylor: Yoga for Meditators (#208) appeared first on The Wisdom Experience .

May 17

Join Chökyi Nyima Rinpoche and Daniel Aitken in this special bonus episode of our celebratory Blazing Splendor Wisdom Podcast series as they discuss The Legacy of Tulku Urgyen and the Path to Kindfulness . During this episode, Daniel and Rinpoche celebrate the rerelease of Blazing Splendor , and Rinpoche shares his memories and insights he gained from the teachings of his father, Tulku Urgyen Rinpoche. You’ll also hear Rinpoche and Daniel discuss: Rinpoche’s impactful relationships with other high lamas and spiritual practitioners; the importance of practicing the foundational teachings of mindfulness, compassion, and ethical conduct; the essential role of mindfulness and kindfulness; and much more! Wisdom Podcast listeners receive a 20% discount on Blazing Splendor WPODBLAZE through June 27th. Remember to subscribe to the Wisdom Podcast for more great conversations on Buddhism, meditation, and mindfulness. If you enjoy the show please consider gi ving us a 5-star rating in Apple Podcasts—it’s a great support to us and helps other people find the podcast. Thank you! The post Chökyi Nyima Rinpoche: The Legacy of Tulku Urgyen and the Path to Kindfulness (#207) appeared first on The Wisdom Experience .

Mar 28

In this Wisdom Podcast episode host Daniel Aitken joins Douglas Duckworth as they discuss Douglas’s translation The Great Hūṃ . Douglas Duckworth is a professor of religion at Temple University in Philadelphia. He received his PhD in religious studies (Indo-Tibetan Buddhism) from the University of Virginia in 2005, and he previously taught at Kathmandu University. In this episode, Douglas shares his journey of becoming interested in the text during his studies in India and Nepal, and he shares the challenges and rewards of working on such a monumental text. You’ll hear Daniel and Douglas discuss: the text’s structure, its thematic elements, the profound philosophical implications of bodhicitta ; the structure and significance of the Bodhicaryāvatāra; the ninth chapter’s unique challenges; and much more! Remember to subscribe to the Wisdom Podcast for more great conversations on Buddhism, meditation, and mindfulness. If you enjoy the show please consider gi ving us a 5-star rating in Apple Podcasts—it’s a great support to us and helps other people find the podcast. Thank you! The post Douglas Duckworth: The Great Hūṃ (#206) appeared first on The Wisdom Experience .

Mar 14

Join Daniel Aitken and Ācārya Malcolm Smith as they discuss the roots of Dzogchen and the aural lineage in the Great Perfection tradition as described in Malcolm’s newest translation Yoga Of The Natural State , releasing in the winter of 2025 and available now for pre-order. In this episode of the Wisdom Podcast , recorded live as a Wisdom Dharma Chat , explore the historical transmission of Dzogchen teachings through the textual and aural lineages and the roles these play in preserving the authenticity and comprehensibility of the teachings. You won’t want to miss this illuminating conversation. You’ll hear Daniel and Malcolm discuss: the process of translating Longchenpa’s writings; differences between ‘awareness of awareness’ and the true nature of rigpa ; key Dzogchen terms such as original purity ( ka dag ) and natural perfection ( lhun grub ); Chogyal Namkhai Norb u and his impact on spreading Dzogchen teachings to the Wes t ; and much more! Remember to subscribe to the Wisdom Podcast for more great conversations on Buddhism, meditation, and mindfulness. If you enjoy the show please consider gi ving us a 5-star rating in Apple Podcasts—it’s a great support to us and helps other people find the podcast. Thank you! The post Ācārya Malcolm Smith: The Dzogchen Aural Lineage (#205) appeared first on The Wisdom Experience .

Feb 28

In this enriching Wisdom Podcast episode, host Daniel Aitken is joined by Christopher Ives , a professor and Zen practitioner. Chris is an author, translator, and avid outdoorsman. His writing focuses on ethics in Zen Buddhism and Buddhist approaches to nature and environmental issues. His previous publications with Wisdom include Zen on the Trail and Meditations on the Trail . Throughout the conversation, Chris and Daniel go in-depth exploring the themes in Chris’s newest release, Zen Ecology . They discuss how Zen’s principles of interconnectedness, non-dualism, and mindful living intersect with ecological concerns, and how Zen practice can inspire a sustainable lifestyle with reduced environmental impact. You’ll also hear Daniel and Chris discuss: Environmental roots and activism; Zen’s symbiotic relationship with nature; Buddhism’s role in structural change; much more! Wisdom Podcast listeners are invited to save 20% off Zen Ecology with code WPODECO through March 31 . Remember to subscribe to the Wisdom Podcast for more great conversations on Buddhism, meditation, and mindfulness. If you enjoy the show please consider gi ving us a 5-star rating in Apple Podcasts—it’s a great support to us and helps other people find the podcast. Thank you! The post Christopher Ives: Zen Ecology (#204) appeared first on The Wisdom Experience .

Feb 14

In this insightful episode of the Wisdom Podcast , host Daniel Aitken engages with Justin Kelley , Executive Director of Tergar Institute and Tergar Schools . Justin has practiced with Mingyur Rinpoche for nearly 20 years and earned his PhD in Religious Studies from Rice University, where he studied with Dr. Anne C. Klein. Passionate about making Buddhist wisdom relevant today—particularly in education—his research explores the intersection of Buddhism and learning theory, drawing on his hands-on experience with both the Tergar Institute and Tergar Schools project . You’ll hear Daniel and Justin explore: Justin’s spiritual journey post-college, his transformative experiences in India, and his academic pursuits that led to a PhD focusing on Longchen Rabjam’s Great Completeness tradition; Justin’s involvement in Tergar Institute’s unique blend of scholarship, practice, and application; the Tergar Schools project aimed at infusing Dharma principles into young children’s education; methods to apply Buddhist teachings in modern contexts, fostering spiritual growth, practical wisdom; and much more! To learn more about Tergar Institute please visit http://www.tergarinstitute.org To donate to the Tergar Schools project visit https://bit.ly/tergarschools-wisdom Note to our listeners : This episode contains the mention of suicide. If you would prefer to avoid this part of the conversation please skip from 16:48 – 23:32 . If you or someone you love are in crisis, please call, text, or chat with the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline at 988 , or contact the Crisis Text Line by texting TALK to 741741 . International listeners, please visit The International Association for Suicide Prevention to find crisis care in your region. Remember to subscribe to the Wisdom Podcast for more great conversations on Buddhism, meditation, and mindfulness. If you enjoy the show please consider gi ving us a 5-star rating in Apple Podcasts—it’s a great support to us and helps other people find the podcast. Thank you! The post Justin Kelley: Beyond Scholarship: The Meeting of Dharma and Education (#203) appeared first on The Wisdom Experience .

Jan 18

In this episode , recorded live as a Wisdom Dharma Chat , host Daniel Aitken engages in a rich dialogue with Lama Alan Wallace . Lama Alan, a significant figure in the transmission of Tibetan Buddhism to the West, shares insights from his lifelong practice, teachings, and new Wisdom Publications release Dzokchen . The discussion delves deeply into the practices of shamatha, vipassana, and Dzokchen, contrasting these with other Buddhist traditions and highlighting their significance in achieving spiritual realization. The conversation sheds light on the nuanced paths of approaching ultimate bodhichitta and the broader implications of modern and traditional Buddhist practices. Remember to subscribe to the Wisdom Podcast for more great conversations on Buddhism, meditation, and mindfulness. And please gi ve 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 Lama Alan Wallace: Dzokchen Dialogues (#202) appeared first on The Wisdom Experience .

Jan 7

In this insightful conversation, host Daniel Aitken is joined by Michael Tweed . Michael is a well-known editor of Tibetan Buddhist texts, particularly on Dzogchen and Mahamudra. Titles he has worked on include Blazing Splendor by Tulku Urgyen Rinpoche, Brilliant Moon by Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche, Clear Mirror by Dudjom Lingpa, and many more. During this episode, Michael shares his remarkable journey, starting at the very beginning with his interest in meditation and Buddhism while living in small-town Ontario. He highlights the profound impact these teachings had on his life, reflects on the importance of personal connection with teachers, shares humorous anecdotes, and much more. You’ll hear Michael discuss: his discovery of meditation and Buddhism through the pages of magazines and books; his formative experiences with meditation and yoga; a transformative encounter in 1992 with Chokyi Nyima Rinpoche which lead to a period of learning and practice under Tulku Urgyen Rinpoche; and much more. Enjoyed this episode? Check out our Blazing Splendor Wisdom Podcast series . Remember to subscribe to the Wisdom Podcast for more great conversations on Buddhism, meditation, and mindfulness. And please gi ve 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 Michael Tweed: Lessons and Laughs (#201) appeared first on The Wisdom Experience .

Dec 20, 2024

Join us in celebrating a major milestone—our 200th episode. Over the years, the Wisdom Podcast has become a gathering place for seekers, practitioners, and thought leaders in the Buddhist tradition, offering listeners wisdom and insight from some of the most remarkable teachers of our time. We continue this legacy of profound conversations with a truly special guest— Venerable Thubten Chodron —as we celebrate the release of Vajrayāna and the Culmination of the Path . This volume is the final volume in her series with His Holiness the Dalai Lama , The Library of Wisdom and Compassion , and we hope you’ll join us in commemorating the completion of this incredible series, representing a culmination of decades of collaboration and deep scholarship. In this episode, you’ll hear Daniel and Venerable Chodron discuss: the evolution of The Library of Wisdom and Compassion series; the importance of completing the series while H. H. the Dalai Lama is alive; the interconnectedness of traditions; the importance of understanding the what and why of your practice; and much more! As we celebrate this milestone, we’re filled with gratitude for you—our listeners, supporters, and everyone who has contributed to our GIVE2 campaign . Your generosity keeps these transformative teachings free and accessible for thousands around the world. Together, we can keep sharing the wisdom, mindfulness, and compassion that resonate across generations and traditions. Learn more about how you can support the Wisdom Podcast and all of the work that Wisdom does at wisdomexperience.org/supportwisdom . Wisdom Podcast listeners are invited to save 20% off any individual volume in The Library of Wisdom and Compassion series with code WPODLWC20. Or, save 30% when you purchase the entire library at once and use the code WPODLWC30 . Or, if you prefer the electronic version, you can use the code WPODLWC30E for 30% off the complete Library of Wisdom and Compassion series in ebook form. To add the entire library to your collection, just add the final volume, Vajrayana and the Culmination of the Path , to your cart and use the corresponding code. The other nine volumes in the series will be automatically added and the discount will be applied . Remember to subscribe to the Wisdom Podcast for more great conversations on Buddhism, meditation, and mindfulness. And please gi ve 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 Thubten Chodron: Vajrayāna and the Culmination of the Path (#200) appeared first on The Wisdom Experience .

Dec 10, 2024

In this enriching Wisdom Podcast episode, host Daniel Aitken is joined by Venerable Losang Gendun . Venerable Gendun is a Tibetan Buddhist monk who was ordained in 2006. A dedicated teacher for over 15 years, Ven. Gendun has taught Buddhist philosophy, psychology, and meditation across Europe and the US, and was the resident teacher of FPMT ’s Maitreya Institute in Amsterdam for six years. As a member of Mind & Life Europe , he integrates contemplative traditions with science to foster equality and compassion. In this episode, you’ll hear Daniel and Ven. Gendun discuss: his first experiences with Buddhism after meeting a Trappist monk; his time studying with esteemed teachers like H. H. the Dalai Lama and Lama Zopa Rinpoche ; the interplay between deep meditation practices and community engagement; his work with the Buddha Project ; and much more! Mentioned in this episode: The Buddha Project Shantideva Center in Brooklyn, NYC Duck/Rabbit Illusion Image courtesy of Wikimedia Commons Remember to subscribe to the Wisdom Podcast for more great conversations on Buddhism, meditation, and mindfulness. And please gi ve 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 Losang Gendun: Bridging Traditions, Building Communities (#199) appeared first on The Wisdom Experience .

Nov 11, 2024

This episode of the Wisdom Podcast , recorded live as a Wisdom Dharma Chat features special guest Geshe YongDong Losar . Geshe YongDong 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 teaches in many centers and universities around the world and has also founded the Bön Da Ling Center in Costa Rica. You’ll hear Daniel and Geshela discuss: Geshela’s new Wisdom Academy online course, Calm Breath, Calm Mind , and his book with the same title; the positive impact that traditional practices like yoga and meditation can have on someone in today’s hectic world; how these ancient and usually secret practices are now being opened and taught in the West; and much more! Remember to subscribe to the Wisdom Podcast for more great conversations on Buddhism, meditation, and mindfulness. And please gi ve 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 YongDong Losar: Exploring Breath, Yoga, and Meditation (#198) appeared first on The Wisdom Experience .

Oct 25, 2024

In this, the fourth and final episode of our celebratory series , Wisdom Podcast host Daniel Aitken is joined by special guest Yongey Mingyur Rinpoche ! Listen as Rinpoche guides you on a journey throughout his life, beginning with his early memories of his father, Tulku Urgyen Rinpoche, the impact his father had on him and his own teaching, all the way to his father’s passing. This episode is also available as a special video podcast . You’ll hear Rinpoche: share memories from his childhood in Kathmandu and the Himalayas; discuss his initiation into meditation by his father to help manage his panic attacks; his father’s teaching style and how it changed as he got older; Tulku Urgyen Rinpoche’s tukdam; the influence that his father had on him, his own practice, and teachings; and; so much more. Remember to subscribe to the Wisdom Podcast for more great conversations on Buddhism, meditation, and mindfulness. And please gi ve 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: Tulku Urgyen Rinpoche’s Legacy (#197) appeared first on The Wisdom Experience .

Oct 18, 2024

Welcome to the third episode of our celebratory Blazing Splendor Wisdom Podcast series! This episode was recorded earlier this year as a live Wisdom Dharma Chat where host Daniel Aitken was joined by special guest, Tsoknyi Rinpoche . During this episode, Rinpoche shares deep insights from his father, Tulku Urgyen Rinpoche’s teachings, along with personal anecdotes in celebration of the release of the collector’s edition of Blazing Splendor . You’ll hear Daniel and Rinpoche discuss: Tulku Urgyen Rinpoche’s dual role in Rinpoche’s life as parent and teacher; Rinpoche’s handshake method, and his unique style of teaching; the most valuable teaching and advice that Tulku Urgyen Rinpoche gave to Rinpoche; and much more! Mentioned in this episode: Tsoknyi Rinpoche’s course https://tsoknyirinpoche.org/fully-being/ Remember to subscribe to the Wisdom Podcast for more great conversations on Buddhism, meditation, and mindfulness. And please gi ve 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 Tsoknyi Rinpoche: Insights from My Father and Teacher, Tulku Urgyen Rinpoche (#196) appeared first on The Wisdom Experience .

Oct 11, 2024

In this second episode of our celebratory Blazing Splendor Wisdom Podcast Series host Daniel Aitken is joined by Erik Pema Kunsang . Enjoy hearing Erik share profound experiences with Tulku Urgyen Rinpoche in “ Timeless Teachings with Tulku Urgyen Rinpoche ,” including a story he’s never shared before. During this episode, Daniel and Erik discuss: how Rinpoche led him to the realization of the mind’s true nature; Rinpoche’s unique teaching methods; his diverse skills and humility; the enduring influence Rinpoche has had on Erik and countless others; and so much more. Remember to subscribe to the Wisdom Podcast for more great conversations on Buddhism, meditation, and mindfulness. And please gi ve 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 Erik Pema Kunsang: Timeless Teachings with Tulku Urgyen Rinpoche (#195) appeared first on The Wisdom Experience .

Oct 4, 2024

In the first episode of this celebratory series of episodes, Wisdom Podcast host Daniel Aitken is joined by Marcia Binder Schmidt , one of the editors of Blazing Splendor and a student of Tulku Urgyen Rinpoche. During this episode, she and Daniel discuss how she began to practice Tibetan Buddhism; her impactful first meeting with Tulku Urgyen Rinpoche; how the book Blazing Splendor came to be; her involvement in preserving Rinpoche’s teachings through books; and so much more. Remember to subscribe to the Wisdom Podcast for more great conversations on Buddhism, meditation, and mindfulness. And please gi ve 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 Marcia Binder Schmidt: Meeting Tulku Urgyen Rinpoche (#194) appeared first on The Wisdom Experience .

Sep 6, 2024

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 gi ve 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 .

Aug 16, 2024

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 gi ve 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 .

Jul 26, 2024

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 WPOD JINPA through August 12 . Remember to subscribe to the Wisdom Podcast for more great conversations on Buddhism, meditation, and mindfulness. And please gi ve 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 .

Jul 12, 2024

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 S. 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 Remember to subscribe to the Wisdom Podcast for more great conversations on Buddhism, meditation, and mindfulness. And please gi ve 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 .

Jul 1, 2024

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 . 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 gi ve 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 .

Jun 14, 2024

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 gi ve 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 .

May 31, 2024

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! 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 .

May 18, 2024

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 Remember to subscribe to the Wisdom Podcast for more great conversations on Buddhism, meditation, and mindfulness. And please gi ve 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 .

May 3, 2024

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 gi ve 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 .

Apr 19, 2024

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 gi ve 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 .

Apr 6, 2024

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 gi ve 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 .

Mar 18, 2024

T his 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 F rontispiece 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 gi ve 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 .

Feb 23, 2024

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 gi ve 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 .

Jan 27, 2024

T his 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 gi ve 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 .

Jan 13, 2024

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 1. In the Buddha’s Words 2. Noble Truths, Noble Path 3. 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 gi ve 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 .

Dec 22, 2023

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 gi ve 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 .

Dec 18, 2023

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 gi ve 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 .

Dec 9, 2023

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 gi ve 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 .

Nov 17, 2023

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 gi ve 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 .

Nov 10, 2023

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 gi ve 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 .

Nov 4, 2023

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 gi ve 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 .

Oct 31, 2023

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 gi ve 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 .

Oct 21, 2023

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 gi ve 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 .

Oct 14, 2023

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 gi ve 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 .

Oct 6, 2023

This episode of the Wisdom Podcast , recorded live as a Wisdom Dharma Chat features 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 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 gi ve 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: The Yoga of Niguma (#169) appeared first on The Wisdom Experience .

Sep 23, 2023

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 gi ve 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 .

Sep 15, 2023

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 American Mind of the Meditator from Taking a Breath Walking the Path Retreat Remember to subscribe to the Wisdom Podcast for more great conversations on Buddhism, meditation, and mindfulness. And please gi ve 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 .

Aug 18, 2023

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 retreat, a beloved and published translator, and was awarded the Acharya degree from the Sakya Institute in 2004. In this episode you’ll hear about Malcolm’s new Wisdom Academy course, Dzogchen: Ten Key Terms , and he and host Daniel Aitken dive into the difference in terminology between various other traditions and Dzogchen, including terms such as original purity and ignorance. They go on to discuss Longchepa’s distinction between different states and types of mediation, transmission and direct introduction, and much more. Remember to subscribe to the Wisdom Podcast for more great conversations on Buddhism, meditation, and mindfulness. And please gi ve 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 Malcolm Smith: Dzogchen: Ten Key Terms (#166) appeared first on The Wisdom Experience .

Jul 21, 2023

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 Dalai Lama. After a difficult journey, including major health challenges, she finally met His Holiness and began serving as a medium of the oracle Tenma. In 2012, Lama Zopa Rinpoche introduced Khandro-la to the Maitripa College community, where she gave one of her first teachings in the West. In this episode you’ll hear Khandro-la and host Daniel Aitken discuss: The connection between virtue and happiness. The subtle natural quality of the mind and interdependence. The difference between compassion and bodhicitta. The importance of trust in your teacher. A collection of teachings from the fifth Dalai Lama on Madhyamaka texts. Remember to subscribe to the Wisdom Podcast for more great conversations on Buddhism, meditation, and mindfulness. And please gi ve 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 Khandro Kunga Bumma: Bodhicitta, Happiness, and Interdependence (#165) appeared first on The Wisdom Experience .

Jun 30, 2023

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, 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 the author and translator of numerous texts. Currently, he is working on the Seventh Karmapa’s compilation of Indian Mahamudra works. In this episode, host Daniel Aitken and Karl discuss: his latest translation work, the third volume in the Sounds of Innate Freedom series, the four symbolic terms of Saraha, their connection to the four yogas of mahāmudrā, and much more! Remember to subscribe to the Wisdom Podcast for more great conversations on Buddhism, meditation, and mindfulness. And please gi ve 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: Volume 3 (#164) appeared first on The Wisdom Experience .

May 26, 2023

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 gi ve 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 .

May 15, 2023

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 gi ve 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 .

Apr 15, 2023

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 gi ve 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 Bodhi: Reading the Buddha’s Discourses in Pali (#161) appeared first on The Wisdom Experience .

Mar 31, 2023

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 gi ve 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 .

Mar 3, 2023

This episode of the Wisdom Podcast , recorded live as a Wisdom Dharma Chat , features special guest His Eminence the 12th Zurmang Gharwang Rinpoche speaking with host Daniel Aitken . His Eminence the 12th Zurmang Gharwang Rinpoche was born a son of the Sikkimese royal court and was recognized by His Holiness the 16th Karmapa as the twelfth incarnation of the Gharwang tulkus. Rinpoche is the supreme lineage holder of the Whispered Lineage of the Zurmang Kagyu tradition. He teaches around the world. As head of the Zurmang Kagyu school of Tibetan Buddhism, Rinpoche is the spiritual head of thirteen monasteries and one nunnery in Tibet as well as monasteries and nunneries in India, Nepal, and Bhutan. Rinpoche oversees the spiritual education of the four thousand monks and nuns and approximately fifty thousand followers in the Zurmang Kagyu tradition worldwide. His Eminence and Daniel discuss: the Mahāmudrā teaching lineage and tradition of texts and practices; Rinpoche’s upcoming book, Mahāmudrā : A Practical Guide ; practical, everyday advice from the Zurmang Mahāmudrā tradition; Rinpoche’s memories of the 16th Karmapa Rangjung Rigpe Dorje; the Zurmang lineage and monastery in Sikkim; and much more! Remember to subscribe to the Wisdom Podcast for more great conversations on Buddhism, meditation, and mindfulness. And please gi ve 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 His Eminence the 12th Zurmang Gharwang Rinpoche: Mahāmudrā (#159) appeared first on The Wisdom Experience .

Feb 18, 2023

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 Clarit y , 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 gi ve 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 .

Feb 3, 2023

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 gi ve 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 .

Jan 13, 2023

This episode of the Wisdom Podcast , recorded live as a Wisdom Dharma Chat , fea tures 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 gi ve 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 .

Nov 11, 2022

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 roles as an ACPE Certified Educator, chaplain, and Jungian psychotherapist. He began his formal Zen training in 1987, and he is a recognized Soto Zen Teacher by the American Zen Teachers Association, White Plum Asanga, and Soto Zen Buddhist Association. He serves on the Board of Directors at the New York Zen Center for Contemplative Care, Soto Zen Buddhist Association and Barre Center for Buddhist Studies. Koshin is a dynamic and original leader and teacher. He is the author of Wholehearted: Slow Down, Help Out, Wake Up as well as the co-editor of Awake at the Bedside: Contemplative Teachings on Palliative and End of Life Care . His work has been featured in the New York Times, PBS, Tricycle and others. In this episode, Koshin Paley Ellison and host Daniel Aitken and discuss learning about the courage to be still; his new book Untangled: Walking the Eightfold Path to Clarity, Courage, and Compassion ; suffering, stillness, and nobility; mythology and the afflictions of the mind; therapy and honoring experiences lovingly; care, compassion, and the delusion of self; and much more! Remember to subscribe to the Wisdom Podcast for more great conversations on Buddhism, meditation, and mindfulness. And please gi ve 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 Koshin Paley Ellison: Untangled (#155) appeared first on The Wisdom Experience .

Nov 4, 2022

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 became a novice nun in the Drikung Kagyu lineage, studying under Khenchen Konchog Gyaltsen and H.E. Garchen Rinpoche. In 1998 she met Acharya Dawa Chhodak Rinpoche while attending a Dharma healing seminar. Between 1999 and 2009, Khandro Kunzang received the entire cycle of teachings and empowerments of the Rigdzin Sogdrub lineage from Kunzang Dorje Rinpoche, and completed many retreats under his direct supervision. In 2011, Acharya Dawa Chhodak Rinpoche bestowed the Tri-Don (enthronement ceremony) conferring authority to guide and teach others, and giving her the title of Khandro. Since the passing of Lama Dawa Rinpoche in 2017, Khandro Kunzang divides her time between teaching and traveling tours throughout Europe and Mexico, serving as the Executive Director for Saraswati Bhawan , leading retreats and teachings at P’hurba Thinley Ling in Iowa; heading the P’hurba Peace Mandala Project International ; and offering teachings, guidance, and support to students world-wide. Khandro Kunzang and Daniel discuss Khandro Kunzang’s early Buddhist journey, beginning in Vermont with the book Sky Dancer about Yeshe Tsogyel; Dharma Protectors and drive on the spiritual quest; nature spirits, omens, and divination; the Ngagpa ordination tradition in Dolpo and throughout the Himalayan region; meeting Acharya Dawa Rinpoche in Oregon and her enthronement as a Khandro; her reckoning with Himalayan cultures and patriarchal traditions; and much more! Remember to subscribe to the Wisdom Podcast for more great conversations on Buddhism, meditation, and mindfulness. And please gi ve 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 Khandro Kunzang Dechen Chodron: Immersion in the Ngagpa Tradition (#154) appeared first on The Wisdom Experience .

Oct 28, 2022

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 teaches in many centers and universities around the world and has also founded the Bon Da Ling center in Costa Rica. In this episode, Geshe YongDong and host Daniel Aitken discuss Geshela’s early life and training with his family and in monasteries in Tibet and India; an overview of the Bön monastic curriculum and training path; sacred deity dancing; English lessons from H. H. the 33rd Menri Trizin Lungtok Tenpai Nyima; Geshe YongDong’s book “ Calm Breath, Calm Mind ;” the power of sound, breath, and mantra; special Tsa Lung Trul Khor yogic exercises; and much more! Remember to subscribe to the Wisdom Podcast for more great conversations on Buddhism, meditation, and mindfulness. And please gi ve 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 YongDong: Calm Breath, Calm Mind (#153) appeared first on The Wisdom Experience .

Oct 22, 2022

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 including “ Nāgārjuna’s Middle Way ” and has published numerous articles on a wide variety of subjects in Indian Buddhist philosophy and comparative philosophy. Much of his work aims at building bridges between the classical Indian tradition and contemporary philosophy, by using insights from one tradition to cast light on problems arising in the other. In this episode, host Daniel Aitken and Mark discuss Mark’s introduction to Western and Asian philosophy through D.T. Suzuki, Alan Watts, and Ludwig Wittgenstein; metaphysics and soteriology in Buddhist and western philosophy; tensions between modern Buddhism and the cognitive sciences; Nāgārjuna and Zeno’s paradoxes; Mark’s comparative work in Abhidharma, Mādhyamaka, and Wittgensteinian philosophies; the two truths and practical soteriology in by Bhāvaviveka and Candrakīrti; and much more! Remember to subscribe to the Wisdom Podcast for more great conversations on Buddhism, meditation, and mindfulness. And please gi ve 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 Mark Siderits: Buddhism as Philosophy (#152) appeared first on The Wisdom Experience .

Oct 14, 2022

This episode of the Wisdom Podcast , recorded live as a Wisdom Dharma Chat , fea tures 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 University of Cambridge, England. Since 1985, Jinpa has been the principal English translator to His Holiness the Dalai Lama. Jinpa and Daniel discuss: details about the Wisdom Academy online course, Tsongkhapa’s Mādhyamaka ; further courses in the broader program Jinpa will teach on the Wisdom Academy ; navigating Tsongkhapa’s unique view of Mādhyamaka philosophy and the classical Indian masters; the psychological dimension of Tsongkhapa’s theory of emptiness; Jinpa’s new translation of the Stages of the Path and the Oral Transmission ; and much more. References Mentioned in Chat At the start of the conversation, Jinpa mentions several texts and translations. They can predominantly be found in the Library of Tibetan Classics series and the Science and Philosophy in the Indian Buddhist Classics series. In answer to Jinpa’s question about Tsongkhapa’s five great Mādhyamaka treatises, he lists: Great Treatise on the Stages of the Path, Vol.III , Tsongkhapa (Ithaca: Snow Lion Publications, 2002) The Central Philosophy of Tibet , Robert Thurman (Princeton University Press, 1984) Ocean of Reasoning , Tsongkhapa, translated by Geshe Ngawang Samten and Jay Garfield (Oxford University Press, 2006) Illuminating the Intent , Tsongkhapa, Thupten Jinpa (Boston: Wisdom Publications, 2021) Middle–Length Treatise on the Stages of the Path , Tsongkhapa (Boston: Wisdom Publications, 2021) Jinpa stated that for introductory materials for the Wisdom Academy online course Tsongkhapa’s Mādhyamaka , he recommended reading either Essence of the Heart Sutra or The Middle Way by His Holiness the Dalai Lama. During the Wisdom News segment, Daniel mentioned the free conference Dharma in Daily Life conference , and Ligmincha Internationals ‘ retreat and dialogues, The Five Element Retreat and Serenity Ridge Dialogues . Remember to subscribe to the Wisdom Podcast for more great conversations on Buddhism, meditation, and mindfulness. And please gi ve 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: Tsongkhapa’s Mādhyamaka (#151) appeared first on The Wisdom Experience .

Sep 16, 2022

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 of the Awakened Mind , and An Old Tibetan Dunhuang Manuscript of the Avaivartikacakrasūtra . In this episode, host Daniel Aitken and James discuss how college athletics set James on his path to Buddhism and academia; his investigations into the root of suffering with teachers such as Bhante Gunaratana, Gelek Rinpoche, and Geshe Lhundub Sopa; the unique lineage and views of the highly influential Indian master Atiśa Dīpankara Śrījñāna; fine points of Atiśa’s contemplative Madhyamaka philosophy and emphasis on meditation; Kadampa systems of Tantric practice and the Twenty-One Taras; Atiśa’s Mahamudra lineage and interactions with some of the Mahasiddhas; the secret stages of the path of Dromtonpa; and much more! Remember to subscribe to the Wisdom Podcast for more great conversations on Buddhism, meditation, and mindfulness. And please gi ve 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 James B. Apple: Stairway to Atiśa (#149) appeared first on The Wisdom Experience .

Sep 2, 2022

This episode of the Wisdom Podcast , recorded live as a Wisdom Dharma Chat , features host Daniel Aitken joined by Malcolm Smith—translator in th e 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 Dechen Lingpa. He is a veteran of a traditional three-year solitary Tibetan Buddhist retreat, a published translator of Tibetan Buddhist texts, and was awarded the Ācārya degree by the Sakya Institute in 2004. He graduated in 2009 from Shang Shung Institute’s School of Tibetan Medicine, and has worked on translations for renowned lamas since 1992, including H.H. the Sakya Trichen Rinpoche, Kyabgön Phakchok Rinpoche, Kunzang Dechen Lingpa, Khenpo Migmar Tseten, Tulku Dakpa Rinpoche, Khenchen Könchog Gyaltshen Rinpoche, and more. In this lively discussion, Malcolm and Daniel talk about: Malcolm’s new translation on Sakya Lamdre, Sakya: The Path with Its Result ; yantra yoga (trul-khor) and Dzogchen in the Sakya yogic tradition; translating the commentary on the Seventeen Tantras of the Great Perfection ; Candrakīrti and the Prāsaṅgika Mādhyamaka view in Dzogchen; systems of medicine and elemental compatibility in the tantras; trekchö, tögal, an d two types of dharmatā in Dzogchen teachings; and much more. Remember to subscribe to the Wisdom Podcast for more great conversations on Buddhism, meditation, and mindfulness. And please gi ve 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 Malcolm Smith: Dzogchen, Sakya, and Translation (#148) appeared first on The Wisdom Experience .

Aug 19, 2022

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; translating and studying with Khenpo Tsültrim Gyamtso Rinpoche; Kagyu and Jonang traditions and the Kalachakra Tantra; emptiness and interpretations of the shentong and rangtong philosophical views; perspectives on the philosophical positions of the previous Karmapas; his new project exploring philosophy in the translation and transmission of the Kalachakra Tantra from India to Tibet; inclusivity, exclusivity, and tolerance in Buddhist philosophy; and much more. Remember to subscribe to the Wisdom Podcast for more great conversations on Buddhism, meditation, and mindfulness. And please gi ve 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: Mahamudra and Shentong (#147) appeared first on The Wisdom Experience .

Aug 5, 2022

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 as the seventh incarnation of Yongey Mingyur Rinpoche by Tai Situ Rinpoche when he was twelve years old. In addition to his extensive background in meditation and Buddhist philosophy, Mingyur Rinpoche has held a lifelong interest in psychology, physics, and neurology. Mingyur Rinpoche and Daniel talk about: recently filming our upcoming Wisdom Academy course with Mingyur Rinpoche and Venerable Anālayo; object- and subject-oriented meditation techniques; śamatha and vipaśyanā in the Mahāmudrā context; recognizing awareness in meditation as opposed to daydreaming; emptiness and manifestations of the mind; śamatha in generation stage Vajrayana and the book Creation and Completion ; and much more. Remember to subscribe to the Wisdom Podcast for more great conversations on Buddhism, meditation, and mindfulness. And please gi ve 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 Yongey Mingyur Rinpoche: Recognizing Awareness (#146) appeared first on The Wisdom Experience .

Jul 22, 2022

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 at the Kathmandu University Centre for Buddhist Studies. Heidi has a degree in Tibetology from the University of Copenhagen, and has translated works such as Illuminating the Thirty-Seven Practices of a Bodhisattva and Establishing Appearances as Divine . Heidi and host Daniel Aitken discuss Heidi’s interest in the East and guidance from Heinrich Harrer; ‘coming home’ to Kathmandu, meeting Chökyi Nyima Rinpoche and Tulku Urgyen Rinpoche ; Nyingma master Rongzom Chökyi Zangpo’s view on pure appearances; Mahayoga tantric philosophy of emptiness in light of Madhyamika interpretations; over-asserting appearances and the roots of duality; the terma foundations of Tara’s Triple Excellence Online Meditation Program, and its graduated daily practice of the path; and much more! Be sure to check out Heidi’s upcoming events and teachings at dharmasun.org/calendar including From Kindfulness to Pure Perception , a workshop taking place July 30 & 31, 2022 from 9 to 10am EDT (New York). This workshop explores the two mindsets of seeing how kindfulness can be the basis for pure perception, and experiencing the felt sense of our own innate kindfulness and pure perception. You can also find Tara’s Triple Excellence Online Meditation Program which starts with a free 12-day course at dharmasun.org/tte . Remember to subscribe to the Wisdom Podcast for more great conversations on Buddhism, meditation, and mindfulness. And please gi ve 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 Heidi I. Köppl: Roots of Duality (#145) appeared first on The Wisdom Experience .

Jul 15, 2022

This episode of the Wisdom Podcast , recorded live as a Wisdom Dharma Chat , fea tures 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 be recognized in the Karma Kagyu tradition of Vajrayāna Buddhism. In 1978 he started the traditional training of tulkus under the guidance of the Venerable Kalu Rinpoche in India. A charismatic speaker, Rinpoche is respected for his lucid mind and diligence in both study and practice. He has taught in Buddhist centers and universities throughout the world. Throughout this podcast, Rinpoche and Daniel discuss: Rinpoche’s family and identification as a tulku; meeting H.H. the 16th Karmapa and the foundations of H.H.’s Dharma community in Europe; growing up under the direct guidance of Kalu Rinpoche; an overview and personal perspectives of the tulku institution; Rinpoche’s simultaneous Buddhist and Western education in the French Alps; and much more. Remember to subscribe to the Wisdom Podcast for more great conversations on Buddhism, meditation, and mindfulness. And please gi ve 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 Karma Trinlay Rinpoche: Life as a Tulku (#144) appeared first on The Wisdom Experience .

Jul 8, 2022

This episode of the Wisdom Podcast fea tures 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. Ven. Bhikkhu Anālayo has authored several books on meditation and early Buddhism, such as Satipatthāna: The Direct Path to Realization , Superiority Conceit in Buddhist Traditions , Rebirth in Early Buddhism and Current Research , and his most recent book Early Buddhist Oral Tradition. He also teaches the Wisdom Academy online course Foundations of Mindfulness . In this episode, host Daniel Aitken and Ven. Bhikkhu Anālayo celebrate the launch of Early Buddhist Oral Traditions , and discuss understanding self-reliance and the Buddha’s tradition; the records of the Buddha’s teachings and their transmission through time; structural elements and meaning in the memorization process of the Suttas; biases and confidence when studying early Buddhist texts; identity and memory in the modern digital environment; and much more! Remember to subscribe to the Wisdom Podcast for more great conversations on Buddhism, meditation, and mindfulness. And please gi ve 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 Ven. Anālayo: Early Buddhist Oral Tradition (#143) appeared first on The Wisdom Experience .

Jun 24, 2022

This episode of the Wisdom Podcast , recorded live as a Wisdom Dharma Cha t , 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 mindfulness practice with Shinzen Young, and has published nine books to date, including fiction, poetry, and nonfiction. He writes regularly for Tricycle , The New York Times , and other publications, most recently having published his memoir One Blade of Grass . He and host Daniel Aitken discuss: his path to Zen, starting on a beach in Argentina; connecting words with practice in koans and early Chinese poetry; Dōgen’s work and the collection Moon In A Dewdrop ; building a foundation for Zen with mindfulness and love; connecting with nature and the vanishing self; the books of Yamada Koun ; and much more! Remember to subscribe to the Wisdom Podcast for more great conversations on Buddhism, meditation, and mindfulness. And please gi ve 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 Henry Shukman: Radical Simplicity (#142) appeared first on The Wisdom Experience .

Jun 10, 2022

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 form, bringing humor and a depth of meditative searching and self-awareness to the work. We’ll be celebrating the launch of Rabkar’s first solo exhibit, Mystery of Life, which includes his colorful pop-art acrylic paintings, mineral pigment on silk pieces, and 3D installations. In this episode, Rabkar and Daniel discuss Rabkar’s youth in South India, balancing family and monastic life; being selected for the artisan path and his apprenticeship in the tantric arts; the role of art and artistic training in Buddhist contexts; his architectural projects and other works with the Tibetan Institute of Performing Arts (TIPA) ; traditional Tibetan painting materials and techniques and contemporary influences; Rabkar’s journey in life and work leading to his current show, Mystery of Life ; and much more. Remember to subscribe to the Wisdom Podcast for more great conversations on Buddhism, meditation, and mindfulness. And please gi ve 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 Rabkar Wangchuk: Mystery of Life (#141) appeared first on The Wisdom Experience .

Jun 3, 2022

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 16th Karmapa as the incarnation of the Gharwang Tulku. Rinpoche is the supreme lineage holder of the Whispered Lineage of the Zurmang Kagyu tradition of Tibetan Buddhism. As head of the Zurmang Kagyu School, Rinpoche is the spiritual leader of monasteries and nunneries in Tibet, India, Nepal, and Bhutan. In this episode, H.E. Gharwang Rinpoche and Daniel discuss the story behind the new book and its unique structure; a verse that encapsulates the essence of the book’s teachings; what it means to tame the mind; renunciation in terms of our relationship with others; the connection between mahāmudrā and non-attachment; defining the word mahāmudrā; faith and devotion in mahāmudrā practice; and much more. Remember to subscribe to the Wisdom Podcast for more great conversations on Buddhism, meditation, and mindfulness. And please gi ve 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 Mahāmudrā: A Practical Guide (#140) appeared first on The Wisdom Experience .

May 20, 2022

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 to the Cultural History of Early Tibet , and The Nyingma School of Tibetan Buddhism . Matthew Kapstein and host Daniel Aitken discuss Matthew’s fascinating introduction to the languages, landscape, and philosophy of Asia; his pivotal journey to India and Nepal in the early 1970’s, meeting Lama Yeshe, Lama Zopa Rinpoche, and Zina Rachevsky; Sanskrit and Tibetan language learning on the ground in Nepal, India, and the United States; studying with masters such as Kalu Rinpoche, Chögyam Trungpa, Dudjom Rinpoche, the 16th Karmapa Rangjung Dorje, and Khenpo Sangye Tenzin; Matthew’s pursuits in Western philosophy as well as Madhyamaka traditions such as Mipham Rinpoche’s; the seminal Tibetan King Gesar epic; and much more! Remember to subscribe to the Wisdom Podcast for more great conversations on Buddhism, meditation, and mindfulness. And please gi ve 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 Matthew Kapstein: The Reluctant Professor (#139) appeared first on The Wisdom Experience .

May 16, 2022

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 Clarit y , and Wisdom Wide and Deep: A Practical Handbook for Mastering Jhāna and Vipassanā . 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 gi ve 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 (#138) appeared first on The Wisdom Experience .

Apr 25, 2022

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 prison interested in exploring, studying, and practicing Buddhism. Since 1996 the project has supported the Buddhist practice of over 20,000 men and women in prisons around the world to transform their lives. Daniel discusses with Ven. Robina and Ven. Chokyi: the foundation and development of the Liberation Prison Project; moving examples of prisoner experiences; the Tibetan astrological calendar , pilgrimage , and other fundraising efforts ; Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s book Enjoy Life Liberated from the Inner Prison how students provide support to prisoners through the Project; a new opportunity in the Liberation Prison Project Director role ; and much more. Remember to subscribe to the Wisdom Podcast for more great conversations on Buddhism, meditation, and mindfulness. And please gi ve 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 Robina and Venerable Chokyi: Liberation Prison Project (#137) appeared first on The Wisdom Experience .

Apr 22, 2022

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 this episode, host Daniel Aitken and Dan discuss Dan’s path to the academic Dharma world through studying with Professor Jan Willis, Naropa University, and study and practice in Asia; studies with Dzogchen Ponlop Rinpoche’s Nalandabodhi Community and the Nitartha Shedra curriculum; Dan’s engagement in historical studies of the influential Nyingma teacher Nyangrel (Nyangrel Nyima Özer, c.1124–1192), King Trisong Detsen, and the Padmasambhava lineage and lore; the foundation and culture of the terma/tertön tradition and the sacred world throughout Tibetan history and into today; practical perspectives on the future of Buddhist literary traditions in the modern age, and the nature of validation in authentic teachings; modern contemplative research and application through secular pedagogical techniques; Dan’s recent book, Remembering the Lotus-Born: Padmasambhava in the History of Tibet’s Golden Age ; and much more. Remember to subscribe to the Wisdom Podcast for more great conversations on Buddhism, meditation, and mindfulness. And please gi ve 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 Daniel A. Hirshberg: Nyingma Lore and Lineage (#136) appeared first on The Wisdom Experience .

Mar 18, 2022

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 meditation; the practice of “Body Buddhism,” integrating the body with the mind and breath; the benefits of purification practices like Tsa Lung Trul Khor and the subtle body; practices to help restore “dimmed awareness” to clarity; quick techniques that can be applied immediately in practice and daily life for balancing; his book with Wisdom, Tibetan Yoga: Magical Movements of Body, Breath, and Mind ; and more. Remember to subscribe to the Wisdom Podcast for more great conversations on Buddhism, meditation, and mindfulness. And please gi ve 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 Alejandro Chaoul on Body Buddhism (#135) appeared first on The Wisdom Experience .

Mar 4, 2022

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 source of mind and the influence of the brain; integration of science and spirituality in the understanding of the nature of the mind; introspective techniques such as vipassana and samatha, and the cultivation of attention, insight, and compassion; Alaya consciousness, primordial mind, Rigpa, and the differing Mahayana interpretations of Buddha nature; awe, devotion, and faith in the experience of dream-like reality; and more. Remember to subscribe to the Wisdom Podcast for more great conversations on Buddhism, meditation, and mindfulness. And please gi ve 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. H. the 42nd Sakya Trizin, Geshe Tenzin Wangyal Rinpoche, & B. Alan Wallace in Conversation (#134) appeared first on The Wisdom Experience .

Jan 21, 2022

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 mindfulness across different Buddhist traditions; the difference between mindfulness and awareness and how we translate the original terms for these practices; defining terms like space and emptiness and how we think about emptiness; emptiness and compassion; and much more. Remember to subscribe to the Wisdom Podcast for more great conversations on Buddhism, meditation, and mindfulness. And please gi ve 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 Ven. Bhikkhu Anālayo and Yongey Mingyur Rinpoche: Early Buddhism and Dzogchen (#133) appeared first on The Wisdom Experience .

Dec 17, 2021

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 Aitken discuss his journey into Buddhism, which started with practicing yoga at thirteen; how he was impacted by meeting the Dalai Lama; his encounters with great teachers like Serkong Rinpoche, Geshe Ngawang Dhargyey, and others; the special training he received in the Kalachakra Tantra; his adventures teaching Buddhism around the world, including giving some of the first public Buddhist teachings in eastern Europe after the Soviet Union broke up; and much more. Alex began his study of Buddhism in 1962 at Rutgers and then Princeton Universities, and he received his PhD in 1972 from Harvard University. His main teachers have been His Holiness the Dalai Lama, Tsenzhab Serkong Rinpoche, and Geshe Ngawang Dhargyey. Practicing under their supervision, he completed the major meditation retreats of the Gelug tradition. Remember to subscribe to the Wisdom Podcast for more great conversations on Buddhism, meditation, and mindfulness. And please gi ve 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 Alexander Berzin: Dharma for Everyone (#132) appeared first on The Wisdom Experience .

Dec 3, 2021

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 illness, and the vital role of self-compassion on her path; key ideas in Zen, such as the practice of “just sitting,” and Pamela’s own journey and insights with these practices; her fascinating journey between the world of the monastery and the lay world; her recent book; and much more. Remember to subscribe to the Wisdom Podcast for more great conversations on Buddhism, meditation, and mindfulness. And please gi ve 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 Pamela Weiss: Real Health, Real Freedom, and Fierce Feminine Buddhism (#131) appeared first on The Wisdom Experience .

Nov 19, 2021

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 and challenges of translating the Buddha’s words, how we should think about the Buddha’s original teachings, how Buddhism guides us through thinking about concepts like ignorance (rather than sin) and merit (as something that brings us closer to the truth), the role of technology in learning, practicing, and teaching Dharma, 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 Dzongsar Khyentse Rinpoche: 84000 App Launch Celebration (#130) appeared first on The Wisdom Experience .

Nov 5, 2021

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 explored in the book is so important, exploring the meaning of view, meditation, and conduct, the important role of devotion in practice, shock as a teaching tool, the meaning of nonconceptuality, 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 Karl Brunnhölzl: Milarepa’s Kungfu (#129) appeared first on The Wisdom Experience .

Nov 2, 2021

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 internationally and at their retreat center in British Columbia, Canada. This interview features stories about their lineages, Namgyal Rinpoche, Sayadaw U Thila Wunta, His Holiness the Sixteenth Karmapa, and Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche. They also share how they are building on this legacy through group guru, conscious community, integration of the shadow, and other approaches to dharma teaching and practice. Qapel and Catherine Sensei have offered teaching on their Dharma if You Dare podcast , which started in 2009, as well as authored two books Wasteland to Pureland: Reflections on the Path to Awakening and Dharma if You Dare. The post Achariya Doug Qapel Duncan and Catherine Pawasarat Sensei: Journeying Across Traditions (#128) appeared first on The Wisdom Experience .

Oct 22, 2021

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 . In this episode, David and host Daniel Aitken explore the theme of the sword of prajna, or wisdom, including various translations of the word prajna , what discernment means in practice, how prajna is free from aggression, how to develop prajna, groundlessness and comfort, how to use the sword of prajna, 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 David Nichtern: Unsheathing the Sword of Prajna (#127) appeared first on The Wisdom Experience .

Sep 24, 2021

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 application in daily life. Tenzin Palmo is an author and founder of the Dongyu Gatsal Ling Nunnery in Himachal Pradesh, India. She also spent twelve years living and practicing in a remote cave in the Himalayas, three of those years in strict meditation retreat. Tenzin Palmo and Daniel discuss understanding emptiness, recent advances in consciousness studies, women in Buddhism, Dharma in 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 it helps other people find the podcast. Thank you! The post Jetsunma Tenzin Palmo: Emptiness, Dzogchen, and Women in Buddhism (#126) appeared first on The Wisdom Experience .

Sep 3, 2021

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 ; his wisdom for making all of life a place of practice, from the bedsides of the dying, to intimate relationships, and to the heart of New York City and beyond. 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 Koshin Paley Ellison: Making All of Life a Place of Practice (#125) appeared first on The Wisdom Experience .

Aug 27, 2021

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 understand the nature of your mind, how Rinpoche structures his teachings for his students, and much more. Rinpoche is the author of several 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 as the seventh incarnation of Yongey Mingyur Rinpoche by Tai Situ Rinpoche when he was twelve years old. When he was twenty years old, Rinpoche was appointed as the functioning abbot of Sherab Ling Monastery. In addition to his extensive background in meditation and Buddhist philosophy, Mingyur Rinpoche has held a lifelong interest in psychology, physics, and neurology. He teaches regularly throughout Europe, North and South America, and Asia. 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 Yongey Mingyur Rinpoche: Dharma for Difficult Times (#124) appeared first on The Wisdom Experience .

Aug 20, 2021

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; 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: Mind, Self, and Reality (#123) appeared first on The Wisdom Experience .

Aug 13, 2021

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 religions and advanced Sanskrit courses in the Department of Religious Studies at UC Santa Barbara. Her two areas of specialization are Indian Buddhism, particularly Mahayana and Vajrayana traditions, and Mongolian Buddhism. She has authored and translated four books related to Indian Buddhism, three of which pertain to the Kalachakra tantric tradition in India, and has published numerous articles on Indian and Mongolian Buddhism. Her most recent book is an edited volume on Mongolian Buddhism titled Buddhism in Mongolian Culture, History, and Society . 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 Vesna Wallace: Exploring the Kalachakra Tantra (#122) appeared first on The Wisdom Experience .