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What if the path to collective healing begins with facing our inner wounds... not bypassing them?

In this episode, Sean Lee-Davies speaks with Buddhist psychotherapist, author, and teacher Dr. Miles Neale, who blends Tibetan Buddhism, depth psychology, and trauma healing to offer a radically grounded path toward inner transformation. From the crisis of meaning in the West to the commercialization of mindfulness, this is a sobering yet empowering exploration of what it means to truly wake up.

Miles is the author of Gradual Awakening and Return with Elixir, founder of the Contemplative Studies Program, and a long-time student of His Holiness the Dalai Lama. With over two decades of clinical and contemplative training, he is a sought-after voice at the intersection of Eastern wisdom and modern psychology.

In this conversation, Miles shares:

Why spiritual growth requires staying present with your pain, not bypassing it
The psychological costs of Western culture’s obsession with speed and avoidance
How trauma fragments our sense of self and why storytelling is essential for repair
The dangers of stripping Buddhist wisdom from its ethical and philosophical roots
Why patience, practice, and inner narrative are the real keys to lasting healing
How ancient myths offer a roadmap for the modern spiritual journey

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Connect With Miles Neale:

Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/milesneale/?hl=en

Website – https://linktr.ee/milesneale

00:00 Episode Trailer

01:16 Why trauma, not pleasure, is the root of suffering

04:42 The “spiritual bypassing” trap in the West

09:31 The real purpose of mindfulness—and how it’s been distorted

13:54 Miles’ path from psychology to Tibetan Buddhism

17:45 The inner split: healing the fragmented self

22:09 Why our culture avoids the hero’s journey

25:34 Initiation, suffering, and transformation

29:12 What Tibetan Buddhism offers modern psychology

32:08 Facing discomfort vs. chasing enlightenment

35:17 Creating safe containers for emotional work

39:50 Reclaiming the wisdom in sacred myths

44:06 From therapy to dharma: integrating ancient maps

47:51 Why commercial mindfulness isn’t enough

51:10 The long arc of gradual awakening

55:44 Final thoughts: courage, compassion, and coming home

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