Kelsang Sama, a Buddhist nun and resident teacher at Kadampa Meditation Center Manchester, shares her insights on mastering inner freedom. She emphasizes that real liberation comes not from escaping the external world but from transforming our minds. Topics range from the hollowness of material pursuits to the transformative power of meditation. Kelsang discusses how unconditional love fosters happiness, the importance of self-acceptance, and the journey of confronting our inner fears. This conversation inspires listeners to cultivate a meaningful existence through inner work.
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insights INSIGHT
Fragile External vs. True Inner Freedom
External freedom, like cutting ties, offers a fragile sense of liberation.
True freedom comes from mastering your inner world, not external circumstances.
question_answer ANECDOTE
Moving Away for Freedom
Moving away from home provides distance from expectations and a sense of a new identity.
This newness can create a sense of freedom, but it's tied to the external change.
insights INSIGHT
External Desires vs. Inner Freedom
Many seek external freedom to fulfill desires without obstacles.
True freedom exists even with zero external freedom if you have inner freedom.
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In this episode, host Agnes sits down with Kelsang Sama, a Buddhist nun, to delve into the deeper concepts of freedom and personal transformation. Together, they explore the difference between cutting ties with the external world and cultivating true inner freedom. While society often emphasizes the importance of shedding external constraints—such as material possessions, relationships, or status—Kelsang Sama emphasizes that genuine freedom lies in mastering one’s inner world and breaking free from self-imposed mental limitations. Her story is one of self-discovery, where the external world’s expectations were set aside in favor of exploring deeper, more authentic truths about herself and the nature of existence.
Throughout the episode, Agnes and Kelsang Sama discuss the transformative power of meditation, mindfulness, and the Buddhist teachings that helped her release attachment to external validation and find a more lasting sense of peace. This conversation offers listeners an inspiring perspective on how freedom isn't about escaping the world, but rather about understanding and transforming the mind.
00:00:00 Welcome & Introduction
00:00:22 External vs. Internal Freedom
00:02:38 Freedom from Expectations
00:03:47 The Illusion of External Freedom
00:05:20 Searching for Life’s Meaning
00:06:04 The Emptiness of Material Pursuits
00:07:56 Dependency and Fragile Freedom
00:11:59 Meditation and Mental Freedom
00:12:34 Conflict and Inner Freedom
00:14:20 Imagination as a Tool for Change
00:19:06 Overcoming Fear of Change
00:20:42 Embracing Impermanence
00:25:56 Holding Space for Global Suffering
00:30:02 The Global Family and Responsibility
00:45:10 Beyond Physical Identity
00:50:07 Living Without Regrets
00:53:00 Conclusion and Farewell
Book references
How to Transform Your Life ~ https://kadampa.org/books/free-ebook-download-howtotyl
Kelsang Sama is the Resident Teacher at Kadampa Meditation Center Manchester in the UK. https://kmcmanchester.org/
The participants of these podcasts are practicing meditation according to the New Kadampa Tradition, which has over a thousand meditation centers worldwide. See more https://kadampa.org/
WANT MORE?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_U5J8JlJq2Y
Find a meditation center near you https://kadampa.org/nkt-center-search/?lang=en
The Modern Buddhism Podcast