Cortland Dahl, a scientist and meditation teacher, chats with Sharon Salzberg about his new book, “A Meditator’s Guide to Buddhism.” He shares his unique journey, from his transformative experiences in Tibet to reclaiming the meaning of devotion. Cortland discusses Eastern and Western cultural differences and the profound impact of the Four Noble Truths. He reflects on patience and personal transformation through mindfulness. The conversation wraps up with a serene guided meditation on Open Awareness.
Cortland Dahl shares that his journey into meditation stemmed from personal struggles, illustrating meditation's role in recognizing one's potential and alleviating emotional turmoil.
The podcast emphasizes the differing cultural perceptions of meditation between Eastern and Western contexts, highlighting how Tibetan culture encourages acceptance of mental states and enriches the meditative experience.
Cortland discusses the Four Noble Truths as foundational concepts in Buddhism, fostering compassion and connection by framing suffering as a universal human condition rather than a personal failure.
Deep dives
Benefits of Teaching Meditation
Teaching meditation can significantly enhance both the instructor's and the students' well-being. It fosters improvements in mental and emotional health, stress reduction, increased focus, and enhanced self-awareness. In addition, it allows the teacher to further deepen their understanding and practice of meditation. Engaging in such a practice can create a positive cycle where both teacher and student benefit from the shared experience.
Cortland Thall's Journey and Insights
Cortland Thall, a scientist and meditation teacher, shares his unique path toward spiritual practice, revealing how personal struggles such as social anxiety propelled him into meditation. His firsthand experiences illustrate that meditation not only mitigates emotional turmoil but can also lead individuals to recognize their intrinsic potential. Thall's narrative emphasizes that those who practice meditation are not just innately calm; rather, they have cultivated their abilities through dedicated training and learning. Thus, these personal stories serve to bridge the gap between struggle and spiritual awakening.
Cultural Perspectives on Meditation
The discussion highlights the differences between Eastern and Western cultural perspectives on meditation and emotional states. Cortland notes that in Tibetan culture, there exists a more straightforward acceptance of mental and emotional experiences without the deep-seated struggles found in Western contexts. This cultural contrast emphasizes the nature of being versus doing — a struggle many Westerners face in cultivating a meditative practice. As a result, embracing the simplicity of existence, as practiced in certain Eastern traditions, can greatly enrich one's meditation journey.
The Four Noble Truths
The Four Noble Truths are foundational concepts in Buddhism that outline the realities of human suffering, its causes, and the pathways to alleviation. They frame the understanding that everyone experiences suffering in varying degrees, thus creating a shared human experience that fosters connection and compassion. Importantly, these truths assert that suffering is not a personal failing but rather a universal condition of existence. This perspective provides a transformative lens through which practitioners can approach their challenges and develop a compassionate way of being with their experiences.
Promoting Mindfulness in Daily Life
Integrating mindfulness into everyday life poses a challenge amid modern distractions, but it is both attainable and essential. The modern practitioner often grapples with excessive doing and achieving, leading to a neglect of being present. Cortland emphasizes the importance of redefining what it means to be a meditator in today's context—highlighting the value of finding moments of mindfulness within life's demands. Through practical applications in daily moments, practitioners can sustain a connection to their practice and cultivate awareness amid the whirlwind of modern life.
For episode 248, Cortland Dahl makes his first appearance on the Metta Hour to speak about his new book, “A Meditator’s Guide to Buddhism: The Path of Awareness, Compassion, and Wisdom.”
Cortland is a scientist, Buddhist scholar & translator, and meditation teacher. He is the co-founder of Tergar International, a global network of meditation centers, with Yongey Mingyur Rinpoche. Cortland is also actively involved in scientific research on meditation and human flourishing at the Center for Healthy Minds.
In this conversation, Sharon and Cortland discuss:
What brought Cortland to spiritual practice
Eastern versus Western cultural conditioning
The Tibetan culture of being
Reclaiming the word “devotion”
Cortland learning the Tibetan language
The impetus for Cortland’s new book
The Dalai Lama’s first visit to IMS and North America
The Four Noble Truths
Cortland’s first encounter with Buddhism
Learning to take refuge
How long until we’re enlightened?
Nurturing our inspirations
Recreating ancient traditions in the 21st Century
Yongey Mingyur Rinpoche
The Center for Healthy Minds
Cortland closes the conversation with a guided meditation on Open Awareness. You can learn more about Cortland’s work and get a copy of “A Meditator’s Guide to Buddhism” right here.
Learn more about Yongey Mingyur Rinpoche and Tergar International right here and the Center for Healthy Minds right here.