The Wisdom Podcast

This episode of the Wisdom Podcast features special guest Gerrardo Abboud. Born in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Gerardo went on to spend 14 years living in India and Nepal studying the Tibetan language. In 1986, he became president of the Dongyuling Center in Argentina. Since 1992, he has served as an interpreter for many lamas throughout Latin America, including Tsoknyi Rinpoche and His Holiness the Dalai Lama.  In this episode, host Daniel Aitken and Gerardo discuss Gerardo’s introduction to Buddhism and Tibetan culture, his experiences with yogic Kagyu models of study and translating key Mahamundra texts. They also discuss how those experiences flourished into becoming a Tibetan/English and Tibetan/Spanish interpreter, 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.</span

This episode of the Wisdom Podcast features special guest Lama Justin von Bujdoss. Lama Justin is an American Buddhist teacher, author, and the founder and Spiritual Director of Yangti Yoga Retreat Center. In this episode, host Daniel Aitken and Lama Justin explore the Tibetan Buddhist practice of dark retreat. Lama Justin shares his introduction to Buddhism and dark retreat practice from teachers Ani Dechen Zangmo, Kyabje Pathing Rinpoche,  His Eminence Gyaltsab Rinpoche, and the Ngakpa doctor, Dr. Nida Chenagtsang.  Lama Justin and Daniel also discuss:  The various styles of dark retreat; Lama Justin’s experiences with chaplaincy and violence;  rainbow body mindset; and much more!   Additional content mentioned in this episode: Check out the Yangti Yoga Retreat Center here   <img decoding="async" class="aligncenter wp-image-258474 size-full" src="https://wisdomexperience.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Podcast-subscribe-banner-2.jpg" alt="wisdom podcast buddhist buddhism" width="2408" height="600" srcset="https://wisdomexperience.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Podcast-subscribe-banner-2.jpg 2408w, https://wisdomexperience.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Podcast-subscribe-banner-2-300x75.jpg 300w, https://wisdomexperience.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Podcast-subscribe-banner-2-1024x255.jpg 1024w, https://wisdomexperience.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Podcast-subscribe-banner-2-768x191.jpg 768w, https://wisdomexperience.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Podcast-subscribe-banner-2-1000x249.jpg 1000w, https://wisdomexperience.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Podcast-subscribe-banner-2-1536x383.jpg 1536w, https://wisdomexperience.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Podcast-subscribe-banner-2-2048x510.jpg 2048w, https://wisdomexperience.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Podcast-subscribe-banner-2-150x37.jpg 150w, https://wisdomexperience.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Podcast-subscribe-banner-2-640x159.jpg 640w, https://wisdomexperience.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Podcast-subscribe-banner-2-1200x299.jpg 1200w, https://wisdomexperience.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Podcast-subscribe-banner-2-1920x478.jpg 1920w, https://wisdomexperience.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Podcast-subscribe-banner-2-400x100.jpg 400w, https://wisdomexperience.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Podcast-subscribe-banner-2-200x50.jpg 200w, https://wisdomexperience.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Podcast-subscribe-banner-2-60

In this episode of the Wisdom Podcast, host Daniel Aitken is joined by Jet Li. Jet is a renowned martial artist, actor, and thirty-year practitioner of Tibetan Buddhism. Together, they celebrate the release of Jet’s new book, Beyond Life and Death. Jet and Daniel explore prioritizing experience over knowledge, bodhicitta, emptiness, awareness in daily life, and using success to help others. Jet also shares his experiences receiving refuge vows, teachings from Tai Situ Rinpoche, and more! View the video version of this episode here.  Also in this episode, Jet and Daniel discuss:  Meeting the Karmapa; Dharma through action; non-enmity; and so much more!   Additional content mentioned in this episode: Follow Jet Li’s Podcast So Be It   <img decoding="async" class="aligncenter wp-image-258474 size-full" src="https://wisdomexperience.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Podcast-subscribe-banner-2.jpg" alt="wisdom podcast buddhist buddhism" width="2408" height="600" srcset="https://wisdomexperience.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Podcast-subscribe-banner-2.jpg 2408w, https://wisdomexperience.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Podcast-subscribe-banner-2-300x75.jpg 300w, https://wisdomexperience.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Podcast-subscribe-banner-2-1024x255.jpg 1024w, https://wisdomexperience.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Podcast-subscribe-banner-2-768x191.jpg 768w, https://wisdomexperience.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Podcast-subscribe-banner-2-1000x249.jpg 1000w, https://wisdomexperience.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Podcast-subscribe-banner-2-1536x383.jpg 1536w, https://wisdomexperience.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Podcast-subscribe-banner-2-2048x510.jpg 2048w, https://wisdomexperience.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Podcast-subscribe-banner-2-150x37.jpg 150w, https://wisdomexperience.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Podcast-subscribe-banner-2-640x159.jpg 640w, https://wisdomexperience.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Podcast-subscribe-banner-2-1200x299.jpg 1200w, https://wisdomexperience.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Podcast-subscribe-banner-2-1920x478.jpg 1920w, https://wisdome

This episode of the Wisdom Podcast, recorded live as a Wisdom Dharma Chat, features special guests His Eminence Kalu Rinpoche and Michele Loew. Together with host Daniel Aitken, they celebrate the release of The Yoga of Niguma, available now at wisdom.org.  This new publication interweaves Buddhist and yogic practices, making them accessible to both Buddhists and non-Buddhists alike. Rinpoche shares personal stories about learning the practice and now teaching it, while Michele explores how yoga and meditation can serve as complementary paths, helping students integrate body and mind through embodied awareness. The discussion also covers practical advice for new practitioners, encouraging practitioners not to be intimidated by the practice but to approach the teachings with sincerity and humility and discover the impact on both physical and mental well-being.  Rinpoche, Michele, and Daniel also discuss:  the challenges and plateaus which can occur in Yoga; advanced practices and illusory body; healing and health benefits of Niguma Yoga; and much more!   Additional content mentioned in this episode: Rinpoche and Michele’s new book, The Yoga of Niguma Rinopche’s most recent online course, Niguma’s Dream Yoga Rinpoche’s first Wisdom Academy online course, The Illusory Body and Mind</

In this episode of the Wisdom Podcast, host Daniel Aitken is joined by John Makransky.  John is Associate Professor of Buddhism and Comparative Theology at Boston College, senior advisor for Chokyi Nyima Rinpoche’s Centre of Buddhist Studies in Nepal, and developer of the Sustainable Compassion Training model for accessing innate capacities of compassion and awareness. He earned his Ph.D. from the University of Wisconsin, Madison. As a meditation teacher and a practitioner of Tibetan meditations of compassion and wisdom for four decades, John has pioneered new ways of making these accessible to people of all backgrounds and faith. His published works from Wisdom Publications include Awakening Through Love: Unveiling Your Deepest Goodness. Join John and Daniel as they explore Buddha nature, bodhicitta, and compassion in today’s world.  They also discuss:  John’s new book How Compassion Works: A Step-by-Step Guide to Cultivating Well-Being, Love, and Wisdom;  the significance of the emptiness and luminosity aspects of your fundamental awareness; ways to deepen your practice; and much more!  Mentioned in this episode: Learn more about John’s work with Sustainable Compassion Training at https://sustainablecompassion.org/ <a href="https://www.amazon.com/How-Compassion-Works-Step-Step/dp/164547173X/ref=sr_1_1?dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.iLSAO_vBvtacII-x8yF3GZaHlKGKpLn7uPTTXLf28fjjYNL2rFUdu3AO16YXOsfA3FFMgP_Txm7wDJlWOZxLVfdyl9mRT6Qvs8ofCbxrOXMKVDJeMckn7vm-Vhw_jd8lk0GGA7_dknQ_MIVwmgdOjCXzs304qb7mGEubLEuIcOd0h6zMZFSY1j4MnZ

This episode of the Wisdom Podcast, recorded live as a Wisdom Dharma Chat, features special guest Eva Natanya. This episode is part of a two-part series discussing the themes in Śamatha and Vipaśyanā. You can listen to Part 1 with Lama Alan Wallace, Lama Alan Wallace: Śamatha and Vipaśyanā: Part 1 (#217). In this episode, join host Daniel Aitken and Eva as they go behind the scenes and discuss the process of bringing Śamatha and Vipaśyanā to publication. Eva shares her deep engagement in solitary meditation retreats and working with Lama Alan Wallace on translating such significant Buddhist texts. Discover the importance of courage and perseverance in the spiritual journey to realize one’s true self and embody genuine well-being. Eva and Daniel also discuss:  The process of translation and the compilation of the texts; the significance of clear light and rigpa;  compassion and pristine awareness; and much more! Mentioned in this episode: Open Mind translated by B. Alan Wallace Fathoming the Mind translation and commentary by B. Alan Wallace Kindness, Clarity, and Insight by His Holiness The Dalai Lama, translated and edited by Jeffrey Hopkins, edited by

January 7, 2025 In this special video episode of The Wisdom Podcast, host Daniel Aitken is joined by Khamtrul Rinpoche, The 9th Gyalwa DhoKhampa, Shedrup Nyima. Join Rinpoche and Daniel as they discuss the history, teachings, and practices of the Drukpa lineage. Learn about the teachings and meditations associated with the lineage, including mahamundra and the Six Yogas of Naropa. The conversation also explores the nature of mind, the difference between ordinary mindfulness and deeper meditative practices, and the role of dream yoga.  In this episode, Rinpoche and Daniel also discuss:  Practical advice for daily practice; the importance of guru devotion; compassion and mindfulness in daily life; and  so much more! Meet Our Guest <img decoding="async" class="alignleft wp-image-407786 size-medium" src="https://wisdomexperience.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Screenshot-2026-01-07-at-14.02.09-300x236.png" alt="" width="300" height="236" srcset="https://wisdomexperience.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Screenshot-2026-01-07-at-14.02.09-300x236.png 300w, https://wisdomexperience.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Screenshot-2026-01-07-at-14.02.09-1024x807.png 1024w, https://wisdomexperience.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Screenshot-2026-01-07-at-14.02.09-768x605.png 768w, https://wisdomexperience.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Screenshot-2026-01-07-at-14.02.09-1000x788.png 1000w, https://wisdomexperience.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Screenshot-2026-01-07-at-14.02.09-640x505.png 640w, https://wisdomexperience.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Screenshot-2026-01-07-at-14.02.09-1200x946.png 1200w, https://wisdomexperience.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Screenshot-2026-01-07-at-14.02.09-400x315.png 400w, https://wisdomexperience.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Screenshot-2026-01-07-at-14.02.09-60x47.png 60w, https://wisdomexperience.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Screenshot-2026-01-07-at-14.02.09-110x87.png 110w, https://wisdomexperience.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Screenshot-2026-01-07-at-14.02.09-200x158.png 200w, https://wisdomexperience.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Screenshot-2026-01-07-at-14.02.09-600x473.png 600w, https://wisdomexperience.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Screenshot-2026-01-07-at-14.02.09.png 1507w" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 98vw, (max-width: 1199px)

This episode, previously recorded as a Wisdom Dharma Chat, features Professor John Dunne.  John is the distinguished chair in contemplative humanities at the Center for Healthy Minds at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He works with Buddhist philosophy and contemplative practice. He is also an author of the winner of the 2025 Khyentse Foundation Prize for Outstanding Translation, Nāgārjuna’s Precious Garland. Join host Daniel Aitken and John as they discuss Buddhist philosophy and the historical significance of the Nalanda tradition. They transition to conceptual thinking and non-duality, exploring the relationship between consciousness and perception, the importance of education in understanding these concepts, and so much more! They also discuss:  Yogic perception and meditation; temporal and spatial experience; the role of education in cultivating wisdom; the intersection of AI and Buddhist philosophy; and so much more!   Additional content mentioned in this episode: The Wisdom of the Nalanda Tradition – A Wisdom Academy course. Available now. This course is offered as pay what you can. Neural effects and phenomenology of nondual meditation and 5-MeO-DMT in an expert meditation practitioner – Winner 2025 Neuroscience of Pure Awareness prize by the Culture of Consciousness Foundation by Thomas Metzinger. Authors: Christopher Timmermann, Tommaso Barba, James Sanders, Stéphane Offort, John Dunne, David Erritzoe, Antoine Lutz. Available in preprint – https://osf.io/preprints/psyarxiv/whqdp_v2 The post Professor John Dunne: Buddhist Philosophy and the Nalanda Tradition (#223) appeared first on The Wisdom Experience.

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 <img decoding="async" class="alignleft wp-image-404965 size-medium" src="https://wisdomexperience.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/Wisdom-Publications-Tibetan-Buddhism-Tenzin-Choegyal-WDC-Bio-Image-249x300.jpeg" alt="" width="249" height="300" srcset="https://wisdomexperience.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/Wisdom-Publications-Tibetan-Buddhism-Tenzin-Choegyal-WDC-Bio-Image-249x300.jpeg 249w, https://wisdomexperience.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/Wisdom-Publications-Tibetan-Buddhism-Tenzin-Choegyal-WDC-Bio-Image-849x1024.jpeg 849w, https://wisdomexperience.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/Wisdom-Publications-Tibetan-Buddhism-Tenzin-Choegyal-WDC-Bio-Image-768x927.jpeg 768w, https://wisdomexperience.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/Wisdom-Publications-Tibetan-Buddhism-Tenzin-Choegyal-WDC-Bio-Image-1000x1207.jpeg 1000w, https://wisdomexperience.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/Wisdom-Publications-Tibetan-Buddhism-Tenzin-Choegyal-WDC-Bio-Image-1273x1536.jpeg 1273w, https://wisdomexperie

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. <img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter wp-image-258474 size-full" src="https://wisdomexperience.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Podcast-subscribe-banner-2.jpg" alt="wisdom podcast buddhist buddhism" width="2408" height="600" srcset="https://wisdomexperience.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Podcast-subscribe-banner-2.jpg 2408w, https://wisdomexperience.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Podcast-subscribe-banner-2-300x75.jpg 300w, https://wisdomexperience.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Podcast-subscribe-banner-2-1024x255.jpg 1024w, https://wisdomexperience.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Podcast-subscribe-banner-2-768x191.jpg 768w, https://wisdomexperience.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Podcast-subscribe-banner-2-1000x249.jpg 1000w, https://wisdomexperience.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Podcast-subscribe-banner-2-1536x383.jpg 1536w, https://wisdomexperience.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Podcast-subscribe-banner-2-2048x510.jpg 2048w, https://wisdomexperience.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Podcast-subscribe-banner-2-150x37.jpg 150w, https://wisdomexperience.or

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. <img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter wp-image-258474 size-full" src="https://wisdomexperience.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Podcast-subscribe-banner-2.jpg" alt="wisdom podcast buddhist buddhism" width="2408" height="600" srcset="https://wisdomexperience.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Podcast-subscribe-banner-2.jpg 2408w, https://wisdomexperience.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Podcast-subscribe-banner-2-300x75.jpg 300w, https://wisdomexperience.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Podcast-subscribe-banner-2-1024x255.jpg 1024w, https://wisdomexperience.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Podcast-subscribe-banner-2-768x191.jpg 768w, https://wisdomexperience.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Podcast-subscribe-banner-2-1000x249.jpg 1000w, https://wisdomexperience.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Podcast-subscribe-banner-2-1536x383.jpg 1536w, https://wisdomexperience.org/

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 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. <img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter wp-image-258474 size-full" src="https://wisdomexperience.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Podcast-subscribe-banner-2.jpg" alt="wisdom podcast buddhist buddhism" width="2408" height="600" srcset="https://wisdomexperience.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Podcast-subscribe-banner-2.jpg 2408w, https://wisdomexperience.org/wp-content/up

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. <img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter wp-image-258474 size-full" src="https://wisdomexperience.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Podcast-subscribe-banner-2.jpg" alt="wisdom podcast buddhist buddhism" width="2408" height="600" srcset="https://wisdomexperience.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Podcast-subscribe-banner-2.jpg 2408w, https://wisdomexperience.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Podcast-subscribe-banner-2-300x75.jpg 300w, https://wisdomexperience.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Podcast-subscribe-banner-2-1024x255.jpg 1024w, https://wisdomexperience.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Podcast-subscribe-banner-2-768x191.jpg 768w, https://wisdomexperience.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Podcast-subscribe-banner-2-1000x249.jpg 1000w, https://wisdo

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 f

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 li

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, <a class="" href="https://www.amazon.com/Happiness-Guide-Developing-Lifes-Important/dp/0316167258/ref=pd_bxgy_thbs_d_sccl_1/144-5988044-0569635?pd_rd_w=0ZYSK&content-id=amzn1.sym.dcf559c6-d374-405e-a13e-133e852d81e1&pf_rd_p=dcf559c6-d374-405e-a13e-133e852d81e1&pf_rd_r=5TFZP5SZX9FQ6JSXBYQV&pd_rd_wg=fXK9o&pd_rd_r=2650420f-b5db-4b91-a3ae-a2c26feec00e&pd_rd_i=0316167258&psc=1" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-u-link-value="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

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   <img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter wp-image-258474 size-full" src="https://wisdomexperience.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Podcast-subscribe-banner-2.jpg" alt="wisdom podcast buddhist buddhism" width="2408" height="600" srcset="https://wisdomexperience.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Podcast-subscribe-banner-2.jpg 2408w, https://wisdomexperience.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Podcast-subscribe-banner-2-300x75.jpg 300w, https://wisdomexperience.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Podcast-subscribe-banner-2-1024x255.jpg 1024w, https://wisdomexperience.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Podcast-subscribe-banner-2-768x191.jpg 768w, https://wisdomexperience.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Podcast-subscribe-banner-2-1000x249.jpg 1000w, https://wisdomexperience.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Podcast-subscribe-banner-2-1536x383.jpg 1536w, https://wisdomexperience.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Podcast-subscribe-banner-2-2048x510.jpg 2048w, https://wisdomexperience.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Podcast-subscribe-banner-2-150x37.jpg 150w, https://wisdomexperience.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Podcast-subscribe-banner-2-640x159.jpg 640w, https://wisdomexperience.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Podcast-subscribe-banner-2-1200x299.jpg 1200w, https://wisdomexperience.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Podcast-subscribe-banner-2-1920x478

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.   <img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter wp-image-258474 size-full" src="https://wisdomexperience.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Podcast-subscribe-banner-2.jpg" alt="wisdom podcast buddhist buddhism" width="2408" height="600" srcset="https://wisdomexperience.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Podcast-subscribe-banner-2.jpg 2408w, https://wisdomexperience.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Podcast-subscribe-banner-2-300x75.jpg 300w, https://wisdomexperience.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Podcast-subscribe-banner-2-1024x255.jpg 1024w, https://wisdomexperience.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Podcast-subscribe-banner-2-768x191.jpg 768w, https://wisdomexperience.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Podcast-subscribe-banner-2-1000x249.jpg 1000w, https://wisdomexperience.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Podcast-subscribe-banner-2-1536x383.jpg 1536w, https://wisdomexp

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.   <img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter wp-image-2584

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.   <img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter wp-image-258474 size-full" src="https://wisdomexperience.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Podcast-subscribe-banner-2.jpg" alt="wisdom podcast buddhist buddhism" width="2408" height="600" srcset="https://wisdomexperience.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Podcast-subscribe-banner-2.jpg 2408w, https://wisdomexperience.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Podcast-subscribe-banner-2-300x75.jpg 300

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!    <img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter wp-image-258474 size-full" src="https://wisdomexperience.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Podcast-subscribe-banner-2.jpg" alt="wisdom podcast buddhist buddhism" width="2408" height="600" srcset="https://wisdomexperience.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Podcast-subscribe-banner-2.jpg 2408w, https://wisdomexperience.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Podcast-subscribe-banner-2-300x75.jpg 300w, https://wisdomexperience.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Podcast-subscribe-banner-2-1024x255.jpg 1024w, https://wisdomexperience.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Podcast-subscribe-banner-2-768x191.jpg 768w, https://wisdomexperience.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Podcast-subscribe-banner-2-1000x249.jpg 1000w, https://wisdomexperience.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Podcast-subscribe-banner-2-1536x383.jpg 1536w, https://wisdomexperience.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Podcast-subscribe-banner-2-2048x510.jpg 2048w, https://wisdomexperience.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Podcast-subscribe-banner-2-150x37.jpg 150w, https://wisdomexperience.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/

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    <img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter wp-image-258474 size-full" src="https://wisdomexperience.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Podcast-subscribe-banner-2.jpg" alt="wisdom podcast buddhist buddhism" width="2408" height="600" srcset="https://wisdomexperience.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Podcast-subscribe-banner-2.jpg 2408w, https://wisdomexperience.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Podcast-subscribe-banner-2-300x75.jpg 300w, https://wisdomexperience.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Podcast-subscribe-banner-2-1024x255.jpg 1024w, https://wisdomexperience.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Podcast-subscribe-banner-2-768x191.jpg 768w, https://wisdomexperience.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Podcast-subscribe-banner-2-1000x249.jpg 1000w, https://wisdomexperience.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Podcast-subscribe-banner-2-1536x383.jpg 1536w, https://wisdomexperience.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Podcast-subscribe-banner-2-2048x510.jpg 2048w, https://wisdomexperience.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Podcast-subscribe-banner-2-150x37.jpg 150w, https://wisdomexperience.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Podcast-subscribe-banner-2-640x159.jpg 640w, https://wisdomexperience.org/wp-content/uploads/2

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.   <img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter wp-image-258474 size-full" src="https://wisdomexperience.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Podcast-subscribe-banner-2.jpg" alt="wisdom podcast buddhist buddhism" width="2408" height="600" srcset="https://wisdomexperience.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Podcast-subscribe-banner-2.jpg 2408w, https://wisdomexperience.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Podcast-subscribe-banner-2-300x75.jpg 300w, https://wisdomexperience.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Podcast-subscribe-banner-2-1024x255.jpg 1024w, https://wisdomexperience.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Podcast-subscribe-banner-2-768x191.jpg 768w, https://wisdomexperience.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Podcast-subscribe-banner-2-1000x249.jpg 1000w, https://wisdomexperience.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Podcast-subscribe-banner-2-1536x383.jpg 1536w, https://wisdomexperience.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Podcast-subscribe-banner-2-2048x510.jpg 2048w, https://wisdomexperience.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Podcast-subscribe-banner-2-150x37.jpg 150w, https://wisdomexperience.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Podcast-subscribe-banner-2-640x159.jpg 640w, https://wisdomexperience.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Podcast-subscribe-banner-2-1200x299.jpg 1200w, https://wisdomexperience.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Podcast-subscribe-banner-2-1920x478.jpg 1920w, https://wisdomexperience.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Podcast-subscribe-banner-2-400x100.jpg 400w, https://wisdomexperience.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Podcast-subscribe-banner-2-200x50.jpg 200w, https://wisdomexp

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.   <img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter wp-image-258474 size-full" src="https://wisdomexperience.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Podcast-subscribe-banner-2.jpg" alt="wisdom podcast buddhist buddhism" width="2408" height="600" srcset="https://wisdomexperience.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Podcast-subscribe-banner-2.jpg 2408w, https://wisdomexperience.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Podcast-subscribe-banner-2-300x75.jpg 300w, https://wisdomexperience.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Podcast-subscribe-banner-2-1024x255.jpg 1024w, https://wisdomexperience.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Podcast-subscribe-banner-2-768x191.jpg 768w, https://wisdomexperience.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Podcast-subscribe-banner-2-1000x249.jpg 1000w, https://wisdomexperience.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Podcast-subscribe-banner-2-1536x383.jpg 1536w, https://wisdomexperience.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Podcast-subscribe-banner-2-2048x510.jpg 2048w, https://wisdomexperience.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Podcast-subscribe-banner-2-150x37.jpg 150w, https://wisdomexperience.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Podcast-subscribe-banner-2-640x159.jpg 640w, https://wisdomexperience.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Podcast-subscribe-banner-2-1200x299.jpg 1200w, https://wisdomexperience.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Podcast-subscribe-banner-2-1920x478.jpg 1920w,

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! <img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter wp-image-258474 size-full" src="https://wisdomexperience.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Podcast-subscribe-banner-2.jpg" alt="wisdom podcast buddhist buddhism" width="2408" height="600" srcset="https://wisdomexperience.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Podcast-subscribe-banner-2.jpg 2408w, https://wisdomexperience.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Podcast-subscribe-banner-2-300x75.jpg 300w, https://wisdomexperience.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Podcast-subscribe-banner-2-1024x255.jpg 1024w, https://wisdomexperience.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Podcast-subscribe-banner-2-768x191.jpg 768w, https://wisdomexperience.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Podcast-subscribe-banner-2-1000x249.jpg 1000w, https://wisdomexperience.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Podcast-subscribe-banner-2-1536x383.jpg 1536w, https://wisdomexperience.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Podcast-subscribe-banner-2-2048x510.jpg 2048w, https://wisdomexperience.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Podcast-subscribe-banner-2-150x37.jpg 150w, https://wisdomexperience.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Podcast-subscribe-banner-2-640x159.jpg 640w, https://wisdomexperience.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Podcast-subscribe-banner-2-1200x299.jpg 1200w, https://wisdomexperience.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Podcast-subscribe-banner-2-1920x478.jpg 1920w, https://wisdomexperience.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Podcast-subscribe-banner-2-

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 Norbu and his impact on spreading Dzogchen teachings to the West;  and much more!   <img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter wp-image-258474 size-full" src="https://wisdomexperience.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Podcast-subscribe-banner-2.jpg" alt="wisdom podcast buddhist buddhism" width="2408" height="600" srcset="https://wisdomexperience.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Podcast-subscribe-banner-2.jpg 2408w, https://wisdomexperience.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Podcast-subscribe-banner-2-300x75.jpg 300w, https://wisdomexperience.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Podcast-subscribe-banner-2-1024x255.jpg 1024w, https://wisdomexperience.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Po

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. <img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter wp-image-258474 size-full" src="https://wisdomexperience.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Podcast-subscribe-banner-2.jpg" alt="wisdom podcast buddhist buddhism" width="2408" height="600" srcset="https://wisdomexperience.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Podcast-subscribe-banner-2.jpg 2408w, https://wisdomexperience.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Podcast-subscribe-banner-2-300x75.jpg 300w, https://wisdomexperience.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Podcast-subscribe-banner-2-1024x255.jpg 1024w, https://wisdomexperience.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Podcast-subscribe-banner-2-768x191.jpg 768w, https://wisdomexperience.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Podcast-subscribe-banner-2-

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<a href="https://www.cr

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.   <img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter wp-image-258474 size-full" src="https://wisdomexperience.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Podcast-subscribe-banner-2.jpg" alt="wisdom podcast buddhist buddhism" width="2408" height="600" srcset="https://wisdomexperience.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Podcast-subscribe-banner-2.jpg 2408w, https://wisdomexperience.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Podcast-subscribe-banner-2-300x75.jpg 300w, https://wisdomexperience.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Podcast-subscribe-banner-2-1024x255.jpg 1024w, https://wisdomexperience.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Podcast-subscribe-banner-2-768x191.jpg 768w, https://wisdomexperience.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Podcast-subscribe-banner-2-1000x249.jpg 1000w, https://wisdomexperience.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Podcast-subscribe-banner-2-1536x383.jpg 1536w, https://wisdomexperience.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Podcast-subscribe-banner-2-2048x510.jpg 2048w, https://wisdomexperience.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Podcast-subscribe-banner-2-150x37.jpg 150w, https://wisdomexperience.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Podcast-subscribe-banner-2-640x159.jpg 640w, https://wisdomexperience.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Podcast-subscribe-banner-2-1200x299.jpg 1200w, https://wisdomexperience.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Podcast-subscribe-banner-2-1920x478.jpg 1920w, https://wisdomexperience.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Podcast-subscribe-banner-2-400x100.jpg 400w, https://wisdomexperience.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Podcast-subscribe-banner-2-200x50.jpg 200w, https://wisdomexperience.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Podcast-subscribe-banner-2-600x150.jpg 600w, https://wisdomexperience.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Podcast-subscribe-banner-2-60x15.jpg 60

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.   <img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter wp-image-258474 size-full" src="https://wisdomexperience.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Podcast-subscribe-banner-2.jpg" alt="wisdom podcast buddhist buddhism" width="2408" height="600" srcset="https://wisdomexperience.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Podcast-subscribe-banner-2.jpg 2408w, https://wisdomexperience.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Podcast-subscribe-banner-2-300x75.jpg 300w, https://wisdomexperience.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Podcast-subscribe-banner-2-1024x255.jpg 1024w, https://wisdomexperience.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Podcast-subscribe-banner-2-768x191.jpg 768w, https://wisdomexperience.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Podcast-subscribe-banner-2-1000x249.jpg 1000w, https://wisdomexperience.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Podcast-subscribe-banner-2-1536x383.jpg 1536w, https://wisdomexperience.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Podcast-subscribe-banner-2-2048x510.jpg 2048w, https://wisdomexperience.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Podcast-subscribe-banner-2-150x37.jpg 150w, https://wisdomexperience.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Podcast-subscribe-banner-2-640x159.jpg 6

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: th

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 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 <img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-371512" src="https://wisdomexperience.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/512px-Canard-lapin_retouché-300x300.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="300" srcset="https://wisdomexperience.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/512px-Canard-lapin_retouché-300x300.jpg 300w, https://wisdomexperience.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/512px-Canard-lapin_retouché-150x150.jpg 150w, https://wisdomexperience.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/512px-Canard-lapin_retouché-60x60.jpg 60w, https://wisdomexperience.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/512px-Canard-lapin_retouché-110x110.jpg 110w, https://wisdomexperience.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/512px-Canard-lapin_retouché-400x400.jpg 400w, https://wisdomexperience.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/512px-Canard-lapin_retouché-

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! <img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter wp-image-258474 size-full" src="https://wisdomexperience.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Podcast-subscribe-banner-2.jpg" alt="wisdom podcast buddhist buddhism" width="2408" height="600" srcset="https://wisdomexperience.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Podcast-subscribe-banner-2.jpg 2408w, https://wisdomexperience.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Podcast-subscribe-banner-2-300x75.jpg 300w, https://wisdomexperience.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Podcast-subscribe-banner-2-1024x255.jpg 1024w, https://wisdomexperience.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Podcast-subscribe-banner-2-768x191.jpg 768w, https://wisdomexperience.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Podcast-subscribe-banner-2-1000x249.jpg 1000w, https://wisdomexperience.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Podcast-subscribe-banner-2-1536x383.jpg 1536w, https://wisdomexperience.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Podcast-subscribe-banner-2-204

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.   <img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter wp-image-258474 size-full" src="https://wisdomexperience.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Podcast-subscribe-banner-2.jpg" alt="wisdom podcast buddhist buddhism" width="2408" height="600" srcset="https://wisdomexperience.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Podcast-subscribe-banner-2.jpg 2408w, https://wisdomexperience.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Podcast-subscribe-banner-2-300x75.jpg 300w, https://wisdomexperience.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Podcast-subscribe-banner-2-1024x255.jpg 1024w, https://wisdomexperience.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Podcast-subscribe-banner-2-768x191.jpg 768w, https://wisdomexperience.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Podcast-subscribe-banner-2-1000x249.jpg 1000w, https://wisdomexperience.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Podcast-subscribe-banner-2-1536x383.jpg 1536w, https://wisdomexperience.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Podcast-subscribe-banner-2-2048x510.jpg 2048w, https://wisdomexperience.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Podcast-subscribe-banner-2-150x37.jpg 150w, https://wis

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/   <img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter wp-image-258474 size-full" src="https://wisdomexperience.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Podcast-subscribe-banner-2.jpg" alt="wisdom podcast buddhist buddhism" width="2408" height="600" srcset="https://wisdomexperience.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Podcast-subscribe-banner-2.jpg 2408w, https://wisdomexperience.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Podcast-subscribe-banner-2-300x75.jpg 300w, https://wisdomexperience.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Podcast-subscribe-banner-2-1024x255.jpg 1024w, https://wisdomexperience.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Podcast-subscribe-banner-2-768x191.jpg 768w, https://wisdomexperience.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Podcast-subscribe-banner-2-1000x249.jpg 1000w, https://wisdomexperience.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Podcast-subscribe-banner-2-1536x383.jpg 1536w, https://wisdomexperience.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Podca

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.   <img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter wp-image-258474 size-full" src="https://wisdomexperience.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Podcast-subscribe-banner-2.jpg" alt="wisdom podcast buddhist buddhism" width="2408" height="600" srcset="https://wisdomexperience.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Podcast-subscribe-banner-2.jpg 2408w, https://wisdomexperience.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Podcast-subscribe-banner-2-300x75.jpg 300w, https://wisdomexperience.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Podcast-subscribe-banner-2-1024x255.jpg 1024w, https://wisdomexperience.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Podcast-subscribe-banner-2-768x191.jpg 768w, https://wisdomexperience.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Podcast-subscribe-banner-2-1000x249.jpg 1000w, https://wisdomexperience.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Podcast-subscribe-banner-2-1536x383.jpg 1536w, https://wisdomexperience.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Podcast-subscribe-banner-2-2048x510.jpg 2048w, https://wisdomexperience.org/wp-c

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.   <img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter wp-image-258474 size-full" src="https://wisdomexperience.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Podcast-subscribe-banner-2.jpg" alt="wisdom podcast buddhist buddhism" width="2408" height="600" srcset="https://wisdomexperience.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Podcast-subscribe-banner-2.jpg 2408w, https://wisdomexperience.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Podcast-subscribe-banner-2-300x75.jpg 300w, https://wisdomexperience.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Podcast-subscribe-banner-2-1024x255.jpg 1024w, https://wisdomexperience.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Podcast-subscribe-banner-2-768x191.jpg 768w, https://wisdomexperience.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Podcast-subscribe-banner-2-1000x249.jpg 1000w, https://wisdomexperience.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Podcast-subscribe-banner-2-1536x383.jpg 1536w, https://wisdomexperience.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Podcast-subscribe-banner-2-2048x510.jpg 2048w, https://wisdomexperience.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Podcast-subscribe-banner-2-150x37.jpg 150w, https://wisdomexperience.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Podcast-subscribe-banner-2-640x159.jpg 640w, https://wisdomexperience.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Podcast-subscribe-banner-2-1200x299.jpg 1200w, https://wisdomexperience.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Podcast-subscribe-banner-2-1920x478.jpg 1920w, https://wisdomexperience.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Podcast-subscribe-banner-2-400x100.jpg 400w, https://wisdomexperience.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Podcast-subscribe-banne

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/   <img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter wp-image-258474 size-full" src="https://wisdomexperience.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Podcast-subscribe-banner-2.jpg" alt="wisdom podcast buddhist buddhism" width="2408" height="600" srcset="https://wisdomexperience.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Podcast-subscribe-banner-2.jpg 2408w, https://wisdomexperience.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Podcast-subscribe-banner-2-300x75.jpg 300w, https://wisdomexperience.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Podcast-subscribe-banner-2-1024x255.jpg 1024w, https://wisdomexperience.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Podcast-subscribe-banner-2-768x191.jpg 768w, https://wisdomexperience.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Podcast-subscribe-banner-2-1000x249.jpg 1000w, https://wisdomexperience.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Podcast-subscribe-banner-2-1536x383.jpg 1536w, http

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.   <img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter wp-image-258474 size-full" src="https://wisdomexperience.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Podcast-subscribe-banner-2.jpg" alt="wisdom podcast buddhist buddhism" width="2408" height="600" srcset="https://wisdomexperience.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Podcast-subscribe-banner-2.jpg 2408w, https://wisdomexperience.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Podcast-subscribe-banner-2-300x75.jpg 300w, https://wisdomexperience.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Podcast-subscribe-banner-2-1024x255.jpg 1024w, https://wisdomexperience.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Podcast-subscribe-banner-2-768x191.jpg 768w, https://wisdomexperience.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Podcast-subscribe-banner-2-1000x249.jpg 1000w, https://wisdomexperience.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Podcast-subscribe-banner-2-1536x383.jpg 1536w, https://wisdomexperience.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Podcast-subscribe-banner-2-2048x510.jpg 2048w, https://wisdomexperience.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Podcast-subscribe-banner-2-150x37.jpg 150w, https://wisdomexperience.or

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

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 c

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 <a href="https://www.miss

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: [email protected]   <img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter wp-image-258474 size-full" src="https://wisdomexperience.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Podcast-subscribe-banner-2.jpg" alt="wisdom podcast buddhist buddhism" width="2408" height="600" srcset="https://wisdomexperience.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Podcast-subscribe-banner-2.jpg 2408w, https://wisdomexperience.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Podcast-subscribe-banner-2-300x75.jpg 300w, https://wisdomexperience.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Podcast-subscribe-banner-2-1024x255.jpg 1024w, https://wisdomexperience.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Podcast-subscribe-banner-2-768x191.jpg 768w, https://wisdomexperience.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Podcast-subscribe-ba

This episode of the Wisdom Podcast, recorded live as a Wisdom Dharma Chat features special guest, Klaus-Dieter Mathes and Péter-Dániel Szántó. Klaus-Dieter Mathes earned his doctorate at Marburg University, and is a Professor of Buddhist Studies at the University of Hong Kong. He previously worked as a research fellow and lecturer at the Asia Africa Institute at the University of Hamburg, Germany, and as a Professor of Tibetology and Buddhist Studies at the University of Vienna, Austria. His research in progress deals with the Indian origins of Tibetan Mahāmudrā traditions. Péter-Dániel Szántó started his studies at ELTE Budapest. He read for a DPhil in Oxford, where he also held two junior research fellowships. He is currently an associate professor at ELTE Budapest, where he is also head of the Department of Tibetan and Buddhist Studies. His main research areas include esoteric Buddhism, Mahāyāna Buddhism, Sanskrit belles-lettres, and medieval South Asian history. In this episode host, Daniel Aitken, and our guests discuss: the latest volume in the Studies in Indian and Tibetan Buddhism series, Saraha’s Spontaneous Songs; the language of Saraha’s songs, Apabhraṃśa and spontaneity; the structure and role of commentaries in understanding the text; the importance of meditation and its relation to Sahaja; and much more! Saraha’s Spontaneous Songs is available now. Listeners of the Wisdom Podcast are invited to receive $14.95 off

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!   <img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter wp-image-258474 size-full" src="https://wisdomexperience.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Podcast-subscribe-banner-2.jpg" alt="wisdom podcast buddhist buddhism" width="2408" height="600" srcset="https://wisdomexperience.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Podcast-subscribe-banner-2.jpg 2408w, https://wisdomexperience.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Podcast-subscr

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 <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Shangpa-Kagyu-Tradition-Essential-Instructions/dp/1611809649/ref=pd_bxgy_d_sccl_1/137-6142872-6798541?pd_rd_w=RS5PC&content-id=am

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   <img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter wp-image-258474 size-full" src="https://wisdomexperience.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Podcast-subscribe-banner-2.jpg" alt="wisdom podcast buddhist buddhism" width="2408" height="600" srcset="https://wisdomexperience.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Podcast-subscribe-banner-2.jpg 2408w, https://wisdomexperience.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Podcast-subscribe-banner-2-300x75.jpg 300w, https://wisdomexperience.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Podcast-subscribe-banner-2-1024x255.jp

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.   <img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter wp-image-258474 size-full" src="https://wisdomexperience.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Podcast-subscribe-banner-2.jpg" alt="wisdom podcast buddhist buddhism" width="2408" hei

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! <span style="font-weight

This episode of the Wisdom Podcast, recorded live as a Wisdom Dharma Chat features special guest, Peter Skilling. Peter is a special lecturer at Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, and an honorary associate, Department of Indian Sub-Continental Studies, University of Sydney, Australia. Until his retirement in 2017, he was a professor of the French School of Asian Studies (EFEO) based in Bangkok. He is an honorary member of the Siam Society, Bangkok, and in 2017 he was elected an honorary fellow of the Asiatic Society of Mumbai. He has published widely on the Buddhist literature, history, and epigraphy of South and Southeast Asia. In this Wisdom Dharma Chat host Daniel Aitken and Peter discuss Peter’s new anthology, Buddha’s Words for Tough Times, and more. During this episode, Daniel and Peter discuss: Peter’s newest release Buddha’s Words for Tough Times; his inspiration for writing the book;  the important roll images play for us as readers; heedfulness (appamāda) and its relation to mindfulness; how the Buddha’s words remain relevant in today’s climate; and  much more! Images discussed in this episode:  Four apramāda seals: Apramāda seal from Lower Burma, Mandeville collection. Apramāda seals from India, Cunningham collection at the British Library. Page 242. <i