The New Dimensions Café

Elizabeth Mattis Namgyel is a Buddhist teacher and teaches throughout the U.S. and Europe. She’s the wife of Tibetan Buddhist master Dzigar Kongtru and has studied and practiced in the Tibetan Buddhist tradition since 1985. After many years of solitary retreat, Dzigar Rinpoche appointed Elizabeth as Retreat Master at Longchen Jigme Samten Ling, retreat center in southern Colorado. Her books include It's Up to You: The Practice of Self-Reflection on the Buddhist Path (editor) (Shambhala 2006),  Light Comes Through: Buddhist Teachings on Awakening to Our Natural Intelligence (editor) (Shambhala 2009), The Power of an Open Question: The Buddha's Path to Freedom (Shambhala 2010), The Logic of Faith: A Buddhist Approach to Finding Certainty Beyond Belief and Doubt (Shambhala 2018)Tags: Elizabeth Mattis Namgyel, faith, dogma, fundamentialism, analytical meditation, doubt, certainty, interdependent phenomena, faithing, preferences, unconditional happiness, Dalai Lama, grace, Buddhism, Spirituality, Religion, Philosophy, Personal Transformation

Alan Watts was a British-born American philosopher, writer, speaker, and counterculture hero, best known as an interpreter of Asian philosophies for a Western audience. He wrote over 25 books and numerous articles applying the teachings of Eastern and Western religion and philosophy to our everyday lives. During the 1960s Watts became well known as a lecturer, writer, and radio and TV personality, both in philosophical and psychological venues and among the youth of the nation, who were disenchanted with the Vietnam War. He was a gifted speaker. He could stand at a podium without notes and deliver a lecture with such lucidity as to leave his audience spellbound. He died in late 1973. In this program we speak with his daughters, Joan and Anne Watts. They are the editors and curators of the book, The Collected Letters of Alan Watts (New World Library 2017)Tags: Alan Watts, Joan Watts, Anne Watts, Joan & Anne Watts, Joan and Anne Watts, happiness, writing, Gourmet Magazine, organized religion, History

Rick Hanson, Ph.D. is a psychologist with a deep interest in neuroscience and mindfulness. He is a senior fellow of the Greater Good Science Center at the University of California Berkeley and creator of the year-long course The Foundations of Well-Being. He is the author of many books including Buddha’s Brain: The Practical Neuroscience of Happiness, Love, and Wisdom (New Harbinger 2009), Just One Thing: Developing a Buddha Brain One Simple Practice at a Time (New Harbinger 2011), Hardwiring Happiness: The New Brain Science of Contentment, Calm, and Confidence (Harmony Books 2013), Meditations to Change Your Brain - CD Set (Sounds True 2009), Resilient: How to Grow an Unshakable Core of Calm, Strength and Happiness (Harmony Books 2018)Tags: Rick Hanson, Compassion, Golden Rule, Resilient, Resilience, Self-Compassion, Loving Ourselves, Inner Critic, Internal caring Committee, Inner Victim, Inner Attacker, Inn Protector, Cravings, Psychology, Health & Healing, Personal Transformation, Self Help

Ora Nadrich is a certified Life Coach and Mindfulness Meditation teacher and founder of The Institute for Transformational Thinking. A former actress and screenwriter, Nadrich retired to devote her time to explore in depth psychology and various spiritual approaches to life including Kabbalah, Buddhism, and Siddha Yoga. She is the author of Says Who? How One Simple Question Can Change the Way You Think Forever. (Morgan James Publishing 2016).Tags: Ora Nadrich, negative thoughts, fear based thoughts, beliefs, internal dialogue, journaling, Personal Transformation, Self Help, Psychology, Relationship

Ricardo Stocker, Ph.D. grew up in Argentina, moved to Europe when he was 25 years old and now lives in California. He studied at Emerson College in England, Prescott College in Arizona, and at Saybrook University in San Francisco. He’s a counselor, homesteader, musician, and professor of Psychology and Communication at Mendocino College. He is the author of Our Compassionate Kosmos: Awakening to the Presence of Celestial Love. (Balboa Press 2016) Tags: Ricardo Stocker, cybersphere, cyberspace, celestial news, reading the weather, information overload, guardian angel, surrender, prayer, high noticing, Chief Spiritual Officer, CSO, Lorna Byrne, common good, collective prayer and meditation,  Philosophy, Personal Transformation, Self Help, Psychology, spirituality

Linda Tucker, an ecological activist, grew up in South Africa during Apartheid. In 2002, she founded the Global White Lion Protection Trust, an organization that works to protect not only the white lions, but also the indigenous communities and knowledge of the Tsonga and Sepedi cultures, which celebrate the white lion as a sacred living heritage. She is the author of Mystery of the White Lions: Children of the Sun God (Hay House 2010) and Saving The White Lion: One Woman’s Battle for Africa’s Most Sacred Animal (North Atlantic Books 2013) Tags: Linda Tucker, White Lions, the star constellation Leo, Orion, Sirius, Maria Khosa, Timbavati, Safari Club International, Global White Lion Protection Trust International, trophy hunting, Animals, Ecology/Nature/Environment, Mythology

Lisa Schrader is a workshop leader, author, speaker and coach and founder of Awakening Shakti. Her work has been featured on Oprah and Oxygen. She is a graduate of UCLA and a faculty member of The Shift Network, where she also hosts the annual Shakti Summit global event. She is the author of: Kama Sutra 52: A Year's Worth of the Best Positions for Passion and Pleasure (Quiver 2009) (e-book) Getting Started with TantraTags: MP3, Lisa Schrader, sacred feminine, Shakti, tree of life, soul work, inner wisdom, showing up, masculine energy, beauty, pleasure, stress, Spirituality, Women's Studies, Personal Transformation, Meditation 

Cheryl Krauter, MFT is a marriage and family psychotherapist with almost 40 years of experience in the field of depth psychology. Her own voyage through cancer combined with her experience as a therapist brings a unique perspective to her clients. She conducts talks and workshops on living with the uncertainty of life threatening illness. She is the author of Surviving the Storm: A Workbook for Telling Your Cancer Story (Oxford University Press 2017)Tags: Cheryl Krauter, cancer, survivorship, survivor care plane, pathology, depression, anger, non-pathology approach, gratitude, curiosity, fear, dreams, listening, witness, intention, Health & Healing, Personal Transformation, writing

David Hanscom, M.D. is a board-certified orthopedic surgeon specializing in complex spine problems in all areas of the spine. He has expertise in adult and pediatric spinal deformities such as scoliosis and kyphosis. A significant part of his practice is devoted to performing surgery on patients who have had multiple prior spine surgeries. He works for Swedish Neuroscience Specialists in Seattle, Washington with eight neurosurgeons and a physiatrist. Besides performing surgery when it is called for, he advocates a comprehensive and effective program of pain reduction he labels DOCC (Defined, Organized, Comprehensive Care), which takes into account the Mind/Body Syndrome. He’s the author of the revised edition of: Back in Control: A Spine Surgeon’s Roadmap Out of Chronic Pain (Vertus Press 2017)Tags: David Hanscom, chronic pain, anger, physical pain, talking about our pain, emotional pain, mirror neurons, adrenalized nervous system, adrenalin, pain pathways, spine surgery, expressive writing, nervous system pain receptors, Health & Healing, Personal Transformation

Lydia B. Smith has been involved in the film industry for more than a quarter of a century. She has produced films for CNN and PBS. She is a licensed spiritual practitioner of the Agape International Spiritual Center and the United Centers for Spiritual Living. In the spring of 2008 she walked the Camino de Santiago. She is director and producer of the documentary film: Walking the Camino: Six Ways to Santiago. Kurt Koontz retired early from his job as a successful sales executive for a Fortune 500 technology company and then spent his time volunteering in his community. He bicycled across Europe and in the Western United States and Canada. In 2012 he walked the 500 mile El Camino de Santiago. He’s author of: A Million Steps (2013 Kurt Koontz).Tags: Lydia Smith, Kurt Koontz, pilgrimage, Camino de Santiago, Santiago de Compostela, walking the Camino, network news, shoes, REI, Travel, Personal Transformation