

Gil Fronsdal
Co-teacher at the Insight Meditation Center and long-time Vipassana and Zen teacher; former Theravada monk who trained with Jack Kornfield and received Dharma Transmission in Soto Zen from Mel Weitsman, author and translator of several Buddhist books.
Top 10 podcasts with Gil Fronsdal
Ranked by the Snipd community

18 snips
Oct 16, 2024 • 21min
Ep. 181 - Mindfulness of Emotions with Buddhist Teacher, Gil Fronsdal
Gil Fronsdal, a Buddhist teacher, shares his insights on how to skillfully relate to our emotions. He emphasizes viewing emotions as important messengers of our inner lives rather than nuisances. The conversation highlights the necessity of feeling pain and understanding emotions as they arise. Gil explores the benefits of being present in our bodies to process emotions effectively and discusses the contrast between mindful awareness and modern technological distractions. His wisdom encourages deeper self-awareness and emotional connection.
13 snips
Nov 12, 2025 • 44min
Naturalistic Buddhism with Gil Fronsdal
Gil Fronsdal, a seasoned Dharma teacher from the Insight Meditation and Spirit Rock communities, introduces the concept of naturalistic Buddhism. He explains how this approach relies on personal experience rather than supernatural beliefs. The discussion dives into the importance of non-clinging, the difference between faith and direct knowing, and the cultivation of qualities through the Eightfold Path. Gil emphasizes the significance of creating supportive conditions for personal growth and the interconnectedness of inner wisdom and care for others.

7 snips
May 23, 2025 • 41min
Ep. 209 - Why We Suffer with Buddhist Teacher Gil Fronsdal
Gil Fronsdal, longtime Buddhist teacher and co-teacher at Insight Meditation Center, offers gentle, practical wisdom. He discusses how mindfulness helps detect clinging, why suffering is a mental activity that can be released, and how to hold pain with care so it feels safe. Short practices and images like shedding skin illustrate staying present, cultivating well-being, and loosening the grip that keeps us in pain.

5 snips
Aug 7, 2026 • 52min
Ep. 267 - Nourishment, Challenge and Change with Gil Fronsdal
Gil Fronsdal, longtime Vipassana and Soto Zen teacher and author, offers a concise guide to practice that both nourishes and challenges. He talks about impermanence, the delusion of permanence, holding experiences lightly, cultural views of self, and noticing thoughts and sensations as transient. Expect reflections on change, grief, and how practice opens possibility.

Sep 11, 2023 • 1h 16min
What Is the Eightfold Path? Wise Intention, Wise View, and Wise Effort With Gil Fronsdal
The Eightfold Path includes eight practices of liberation and freedom from suffering. In this episode, Buddhist scholar and meditation teacher Gil Fronsdal presents each element of The Noble Eightfold Path and how it relates to our daily living. Diana Hill shares the intersection between these practices and ACT and how together they support the development of wisdom.Related ResourcesGet enhanced show notes for this episode>>>Join Diana live October 1 for a free Sangha talk and meditation<<<Join the Wise Effort Community to access the live Sangha event and previous recordings.Get your ticket (in-person and streaming) to Diana’s Tell the Truth Salon Series, a live gathering in Santa Barbara, California.Sign up for Diana's newsletterOrder Diana's book, Wise Effort: How to Focus Your Genius Energy on What Matters Most, and receive special bonus gifts.Diana's EventsSee Diana at an upcoming eventConnecting With DianaSubscribe for free on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.Leave a 5-star review on Apple so people like you can find the show.Follow Diana on Psychology Today, Insight Timer, YouTube, Instagram, LinkedIn, Facebook, and Diana’s website.Sign up for the free Wise Effort Newsletter.Thanks to the team, Craig and Ashley Hiatt, and Benjamin Gould of Bell & Branch for your beautiful music.Mentioned in this episode:Come to the Tell the Truth Salon on October 1See Diana Hill and Rosemerry Trommer during this special live event. Join in-person and live stream.Tell the Truth Salon SeriesCome to the Tell the Truth Salon on October 1See Diana Hill and Rosemerry Trommer during this special live event. Join in-person and live stream.Tell the Truth Salon Series

Aug 1, 2025 • 50min
Ep. 218 - Anicca: Seeing The Inconstancy of All Things with Gil Fronsdal
Gil Fronsdal, longtime Buddhist teacher and translator, offers a clear take on anicca as inconstancy. He shares a fable about a painting of peace and uses river and waterfall images to show how noticing flow calms a restless mind. Short practical pointers on sensing change and softening perceptions appear throughout.

Oct 24, 2016 • 42min
Ep. 04 – Gil Fronsdal - Non-Self and Self
Gil Fronsdal, an author and meditation teacher, dives deep into the fascinating concepts of self and non-self from early Buddhist traditions. He contrasts the Buddha’s strong self-awareness with common misconceptions, exploring psychological freedom. Gil discusses how childhood influences contribute to feelings of inadequacy and advocates for recognizing mental traps to foster genuine liberation. With insights on cultivating inner strength, he emphasizes mindfulness and the journey towards understanding one's true identity.

Jul 10, 2026 • 47min
Ep. 263 - Dharma Lessons from 50 Years of Buddhist Practice with Gil Fronsdal
Gil Fronsdal, longtime Buddhist teacher and co-founder of the Insight Meditation Center, reflects on five decades of practice. He shares stories about discovering Zen, the power of practicing with others, simplicity and generosity, founding a meditation center, and how nonviolence and fear work shaped his path. Short, reflective, and warm.

Apr 1, 2026 • 59min
Ep. 249 - The Strength to Continue with Gil Fronsdal
Gil Fronsdal, longtime Vipassana and Zen teacher and author, shares stories from retreats and monastic life. He explores the Four Resolves—truth, wisdom, generosity, peace—and why facing suffering and staying present builds inner discipline. Short anecdotes and metaphors like the ocean and bell bring the practice to life.

Jan 5, 2026 • 28min
Ep. 237 - Imagination: A New Year’s Talk with Buddhist Teacher Gil Fronsdal
In this insightful discussion, Gil Fronsdal, a renowned Buddhist teacher and co-teacher at the Insight Meditation Center, explores the dual nature of imagination. He highlights how it can create beauty and connection while also leading to suffering. Gil reflects on mindfulness through the lens of everyday experiences and the importance of not getting lost in dreams. He connects imagination to compassion and warns against passive engagement with reality. By envisioning a world free from suffering, he invites listeners to harness imagination for meaningful intentions.


