The Wisdom Podcast

Mark Siderits, an expert in Asian and Western philosophy, dives deep into Buddhist thought. He explores the essential themes of emptiness and the distinctions between the Yogācāra and Madhyamaka schools. Listeners gain insight into reflexive awareness and how cognition shapes our understanding of self and reality. Mark also challenges traditional views on memory and experience, emphasizing the importance of perception in comprehending existence. His discussions invite all to reconsider their notions of self and enlightenment.

This episode, recorded live as a Wisdom Dharma Chat, features special guest Sarah Harding. Join Sarah and Daniel Aitken as they discuss Sarah’s newest release with Wisdom Severance: The Early Practice of Chö. Together, they explore how chö (severance)—an ancient Tibetan Buddhist practice—guides us to confront our deepest fears, cut through ego-clinging, and realize the mind’s innate clarity.  You’ll also hear Daniel and Sarah discuss:  the role of fear in chö practice; motherhood and feminine imagery in chö; various scientific approaches to mindfulness; her time in a three-year retreat and her journey translating sacred texts; and much more!   Wisdom Podcast listeners are invited to save 20% off Severance: The Early Practice of Chö with code WPODCHO through August 31, 2025.   The post Sarah Harding: Severance (#211) appeared first on The Wisdom Experience.

This episode of the Wisdom Podcast, recorded live as a Wisdom Dharma Chat, is presented in collaboration with Tergar International and Tibet House US, featuring special guests Yongey Mingyur Rinpoche and Robert Thurman. In this special episode, Yongey Mingyur Rinpoche and Professor Robert Thurman come together for a rich and wide-ranging conversation on the practical application of Buddhist teachings in everyday life. With clarity, warmth, and humor, they explore tantric practice, the nature of Buddha’s potential, and the central role of meditation in transforming the mind. This episode concludes with a guided meditation from Rinpoche. Listen as Rinpoche and Professor Thurman, along with host Daniel Aiken, discuss: Buddha nature and the role and value of meditation in everyday life; the modern misunderstanding of Buddhism; the importance of compassion; Buddhism’s place in the future of AI; and much more!      Meet Our Guests Yongey Mingyur Rinpoche Mingyur Rinpoche is a world-renowned meditation teacher with personal experience of anxiety and panic attacks, which he suffered from throughout his childhood and into his teenage years, when he learned to transform his panic through meditation. Born in Nepal in 1975, Mingyur Rinpoche began to study meditation as a young boy with his father, Tulku Urgyen Rinpoche, himself a well-respected Buddhist teacher. As a child he became interested in contemporary science through conversations with scientists who were visiting his father, and as he grew older he began to collaborate with neuroscientists and psychologists, including Richard Davidson and Antoine Lutz at the University of Wisconsin, on research projects that study the effects of meditation on the brain and the mind. As the head of the Tergar Meditation Community, Mingyur Rinpoche supports groups of students in more than thirty countries, leading workshops around the world for new and returning students every year.   Robert Thurman Bob Thurman, known in the academic circles as Professor Robert A.F. Thurman, is a talented popularizer of the Buddha’s teachings and the first Westerner Tibetan Buddhist monk ordained by His Holiness the Dalai Lama, A charismatic speaker and author of many books on Tibet, Buddhism, art, politics and culture, Bob was named by The New York Times the leading American expert on Tibetan Buddhism, and was awarded the prestigious Padma Shri Award in 2020, for his help in recovering India’s ancient Buddhist heritage. Time Magazine chose him as one of the 25 most influential Americans in 1997, describing him as a “larger than life scholar-activist destined to convey the Dharma, the precious teachings of Shakyamuni Buddha, from Asia to America.” As part of his long-term commitment to the Tibetan cause, at the request of H.H. the Dalai Lama, Bob co-founded Tibet House US in 1987 with Tenzin Tethong, Richard Gere, and Philip Glass, a non profit organization based in New York City and dedicated to the preservation and renaissance of Tibetan culture. The post Yongey Mingyur Rinpoche And Robert Thurman: Buddhism in Daily Life in Conversation with Two Great Masters (#210) appeared first on The Wisdom Experience.

Cortland Dahl is an author and translator whose research focuses on Buddhist philosophy and the science of meditation. He discusses integrating meditation into daily life and the crucial aspects of view, meditation, and application. Cortland also dives into concepts like naturalness and spontaneity in Vajrayana Buddhism. Moreover, he addresses the balance between being and doing, the challenges of measuring mindfulness, and the intersection of meditation with modern technology—opening new perspectives on awareness and its role in our lives.

Join Alejandro Chaoul, Richard Freeman, Mary Taylor, and host Daniel Aitken as they discuss their different traditions of yoga and how they relate to meditation. Listen as they provide insights into their yoga traditions, emphasizing historical dialogue between the traditions and shared practices. They touch on practical meditation tips, integrating the body into mindfulness, and much more!  You’ll also hear Daniel and our guests discuss:  how they each became interested in their version of yoga;  the power of Yoga to teach us stillness;  how to improve our relationship with space; the Wisdom Academy course Yoga for Meditators; and much more!   Wisdom Podcast listeners receive a 20% discount on Yoga For Meditators WPODY4M through July 5th.     About the Interviewees Dr. Alejandro Chaoul is dedicated to educating individuals and communities about the ancient practice of Tibetan yoga and its transformative power to enhance physical, emotional, and spiritual well-being. He serves as the scholar and founding director of the Jung Center’s Mind Body Spirit Institute (MBSI) and holds a doctoral degree in religious studies from Rice University. For the last thirty years Ale has studied with many Tibetan teachers in India, Nepal, and the United States. Since 1995, he has taught Tibetan meditation and yogic practices under the auspices of Ligmincha International across the United States, Latin America, and Europe.    Richard Freeman has been a student of yoga since 1968. He spent nine years in Asia studying yoga āsana, prāṇāyāma, Sufism, Sanskrit language, and Indian philosophy. He has studied asana with B.K.S. Iyengar and K. Pattabhi Jois and has worked with numerous Buddhist teachers to draw insights into the interfacing of Buddhism and yoga as a reflection of life. Richard’s metaphorical, humorous, teaching style appeals to students of many backgrounds and nationalities.   Mary Taylor began studying yoga in 1971 and her studies have grown into a deep interest into how yoga asana, meditation, and the interfacing of yoga with Buddhism combine to support us through complex modern times. Her main asana practice is in the internal forms of the ashtanga vinyasa tradition. She is part of the core faculty of the Being with Dying program at Upaya Zen Center and the senior faculty for the UZIT training program, both of which apply contemplative practices to improved and sustainable wellness within medical settings. The post Alejandro Chaoul, Richard Freeman, and Mary Taylor: Yoga for Meditators (#208) appeared first on The Wisdom Experience.

Join Chökyi Nyima Rinpoche and Daniel Aitken in this special bonus episode of our celebratory Blazing Splendor Wisdom Podcast series as they discuss The Legacy of Tulku Urgyen and the Path to Kindfulness. During this episode, Daniel and Rinpoche celebrate the rerelease of Blazing Splendor, and Rinpoche shares his memories and insights he gained from the teachings of his father, Tulku Urgyen Rinpoche. You’ll also hear Rinpoche and Daniel discuss:  Rinpoche’s impactful relationships with other high lamas and spiritual practitioners; the importance of practicing the foundational teachings of mindfulness, compassion, and ethical conduct; the essential role of mindfulness and kindfulness; and much more!    Wisdom Podcast listeners receive a 20% discount on Blazing Splendor WPODBLAZE through June 27th.   Remember to subscribe to the Wisdom Podcast for more great conversations on Buddhism, meditation, and mindfulness. If you enjoy the show please consider giving us a 5-star rating in Apple Podcasts—it’s a great support to us and helps other people find the podcast. Thank you! The post Chökyi Nyima Rinpoche: The Legacy of Tulku Urgyen and the Path to Kindfulness (#207) appeared first on The Wisdom Experience.

In this Wisdom Podcast episode host Daniel Aitken joins Douglas Duckworth as they discuss Douglas’s translation The Great Hūṃ. Douglas Duckworth is a professor of religion at Temple University in Philadelphia. He received his PhD in religious studies (Indo-Tibetan Buddhism) from the University of Virginia in 2005, and he previously taught at Kathmandu University. In this episode, Douglas shares his journey of becoming interested in the text during his studies in India and Nepal, and he shares the challenges and rewards of working on such a monumental text.  You’ll hear Daniel and Douglas discuss:  the text’s structure, its thematic elements, the profound philosophical implications of bodhicitta; the structure and significance of the Bodhicaryāvatāra; the ninth chapter’s unique challenges; and much more! Remember to subscribe to the Wisdom Podcast for more great conversations on Buddhism, meditation, and mindfulness. If you enjoy the show please consider giving us a 5-star rating in Apple Podcasts—it’s a great support to us and helps other people find the podcast. Thank you! The post Douglas Duckworth: The Great Hūṃ (#206) appeared first on The Wisdom Experience.

Ēcārya Malcolm Smith, a renowned translator of Tibetan Buddhist texts and Dzogchen practitioner, dives into the fascinating roots of the Dzogchen tradition. He discusses the challenges of translating Longchenpa’s writings and the significance of oral transmission in preserving these teachings. Discover key Dzogchen concepts like 'original purity' and 'natural perfection.' Malcolm also sheds light on the impact of Chogyal Namkhai Norbu in spreading Dzogchen to the West, while exploring the nuances between awareness and the essence of rigpa.

In this enriching Wisdom Podcast episode, host Daniel Aitken is joined by Christopher Ives, a professor and Zen practitioner. Chris is an author, translator, and avid outdoorsman. His writing focuses on ethics in Zen Buddhism and Buddhist approaches to nature and environmental issues. His previous publications with Wisdom include Zen on the Trail and Meditations on the Trail. Throughout the conversation, Chris and Daniel go in-depth exploring the themes in Chris’s newest release, Zen Ecology. They discuss how Zen’s principles of interconnectedness, non-dualism, and mindful living intersect with ecological concerns, and how Zen practice can inspire a sustainable lifestyle with reduced environmental impact.  You’ll also hear Daniel and Chris discuss:  Environmental roots and activism; Zen’s symbiotic relationship with nature; Buddhism’s role in structural change; much more! Wisdom Podcast listeners are invited to save 20% off Zen Ecology with code WPODECO through March 31. Remember to subscribe to the Wisdom Podcast for more great conversations on Buddhism, meditation, and mindfulness. If you enjoy the show please consider giving us a 5-star rating in Apple Podcasts—it’s a great support to us and helps other people find the podcast. Thank you! The post Christopher Ives: Zen Ecology (#204) appeared first on The Wisdom Experience.

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.