In this episode, Wendy speaks with meditation teacher and Buddhist scholar Willa Blythe Baker about her work, and how the body is relevant in meditation. They cover many topics, including:

• the roots of her interest in Buddhism and early experiences of Buddhism in action;
• a research study about meditation and real-world compassionate behavior in which she was involved and various interpretations of the results;
• how qualities like curiosity and compassion that we develop toward our own mental states in meditation might transfer to others;
• the most relevant outcomes for contemplative scientists to be measuring;
• role of the body in contemplative practice;
• three natural metaphors for what she calls "somatic mindfulness" practice;
• the role of letting go, and the importance of trust and how to foster it;
• and implications of these ideas for how we view ourselves, and our interconnection with others and the world around us.

Full show notes and resources