The Wisdom Podcast

Justin Kelley: Beyond Scholarship: The Meeting of Dharma and Education (#203)

Feb 14, 2025

Justin Kelley, Executive Director of the Tergar Institute and Schools, shares insights from his 20-year journey with Mingyur Rinpoche. He discusses integrating Buddhist wisdom into modern education, emphasizing its relevance for young students. Justin recounts transformative experiences from India that deepened his understanding of Dharma. The conversation also highlights innovative educational projects aimed at enhancing creativity and critical thinking, while addressing the importance of compassion and community support for those navigating personal struggles.

01:11:32

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Episode guests

Justin Kelley

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Episode notes

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Quick takeaways

Justin Kelley shares how his spiritual journey, initiated by personal struggles, led to embracing Buddhist teachings for navigating life's complexities.

The Tergar Institute aims to merge scholarly pursuits with practical Buddhist applications, promoting spiritual growth and addressing contemporary societal challenges.

Tergar Schools focus on integrating Dharma principles into early education, fostering awareness and resilience in children to combat modern issues like anxiety.

Deep dives

Personal Growth Through Adversity

The speaker shares how their spiritual journey began after encountering feelings of sadness and disillusionment in a conventional career. Despite working in land conservation, barriers led to a sense of stagnation, prompting a search for deeper meaning. The interest in Buddhist teachings, sparked by personal struggle, became a way to navigate life's challenges. This journey illustrates how adversity can serve as a catalyst for spiritual exploration and growth.

Intro

2min

Exploring the Intersection of Dharma and Modern Education

5min

Journey Through Chaos and Spirituality

17min

Journey of Transformation and Learning

18min

Purity and Innovation in Education

26min

Exploring Educational Initiatives and Community Support

2min

Exploring the Intersection of Dharma and Education

2min

In this insightful episode of the Wisdom Podcast, host Daniel Aitken engages with Justin Kelley, Executive Director of Tergar Institute and Tergar Schools. Justin has practiced with Mingyur Rinpoche for nearly 20 years and earned his PhD in Religious Studies from Rice University, where he studied with Dr. Anne C. Klein. Passionate about making Buddhist wisdom relevant today—particularly in education—his research explores the intersection of Buddhism and learning theory, drawing on his hands-on experience with both the Tergar Institute and Tergar Schools project.

You’ll hear Daniel and Justin explore:

Justin’s spiritual journey post-college, his transformative experiences in India, and his academic pursuits that led to a PhD focusing on Longchen Rabjam’s Great Completeness tradition;
Justin’s involvement in Tergar Institute’s unique blend of scholarship, practice, and application;
the Tergar Schools project aimed at infusing Dharma principles into young children’s education;
methods to apply Buddhist teachings in modern contexts, fostering spiritual growth, practical wisdom; and
much more!

To learn more about Tergar Institute please visit http://www.tergarinstitute.org

To donate to the Tergar Schools project visit https://bit.ly/tergarschools-wisdom

Note to our listeners: This episode contains the mention of suicide. If you would prefer to avoid this part of the conversation please skip from 16:48 – 23:32.

If you or someone you love are in crisis, please call, text, or chat with the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline at 988, or contact the Crisis Text Line by texting TALK to 741741. International listeners, please visit The International Association for Suicide Prevention to find crisis care in your region.

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