This episode of the Wisdom Podcast features Dr. Richard J. Davidson. Richard is the William James and Vilas Research Professor of Psychology and Psychiatry, founder of the Center for Healthy Minds, and director of the Waisman Laboratory for Brain Imaging and Behavior at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He is best known for his groundbreaking work studying emotion and the brain. In 2006 Time Magazine named Davidson one of “The 100 Most Influential People in the World.” He is also co-author with Daniel Goleman of Altered Traits: Science Reveals How Meditation Changes Your Mind, Brain, and Body. In this episode, host Daniel Aitken, and Richard discuss: his lab tests with Yongey Mingyur Rinpoche on the effects of meditation; technology’s advancements with the ability to find correlates; brain waves associated with flow states; meta-awareness; and much more! If you enjoy the episode, check out Richard’s course, The Science of Flourishing, presented by Healthy Minds Innovations. The Science of Flourishing is an online, self-paced course designed to help you understand the skills of well-being, the science behind them, and how to apply those skills in your daily life. Fans of the Wisdom Podcast receive a 20% discount with code TWE20 when used before December 31, 2023. Remember to subscribe to the Wisdom Podcast for more great conversations on Buddhism, meditation, and mindfulness. And please give us a 5-star rating in Apple Podcasts if you enjoy our show—it’s a great support to us and helps other people find the podcast. Thank you! The post Dr. Richard J. Davidson: Meditation and the Effects on the Brain (#178) appeared first on The Wisdom Experience.

This episode of the Wisdom Podcast features Geoffrey Barstow. Geoff is an assistant professor of Philosophy and Religion at Oregon State University. He has been a student of Choky Nyima Rinpoche for more than 20 years and he spent over six years conducting research in Nepal, China, and Tibet. His studies focused on animal ethics, the relationship between humans and animals, and what that can teach us about Tibetan Buddhism. In this episode, Daniel and Geoff discuss vegetarianism in Tibetan Buddhism, as well as, a common topic of debate in Buddhist circles, should all Buddhists be vegetarian? Additionally, they also discuss:  Geoff’s book The Faults of Meat; the origins of Geoff’s interest in Tibet and Tibetan Buddhism;  vegetarianism and its relation to the threefold purity; and much more! Remember to subscribe to the Wisdom Podcast for more great conversations on Buddhism, meditation, and mindfulness. And please give us a 5-star rating in Apple Podcasts if you enjoy our show—it’s a great support to us and helps other people find the podcast. Thank you! The post Geoffrey Barstow: Was the Buddha Vegetarian? (#177) appeared first on The Wisdom Experience.

This episode of the Wisdom Podcast, recorded live as a Wisdom Dharma Chat features special guest, Alejandro Chaoul. During this episode, host Daniel Aitken and Alejandro discuss the practice of Tibetan yoga, (trul khor, “magical movement”). Alejandro provides demonstrations of some of the movements and guides the listener through how to practice them as well. Alejandro and Daniel also discuss: pervasive breath (khyab lung) and movements that work with it; the five winds; Alejandro’s upcoming Wisdom Academy course, Tibetan Yoga, Part 2; and much more. Alejandro provides detailed descriptions and instructions for the movements he demonstrates during this episode. If you would like to see the movements as well you can watch the recording of the live event on our website here.   Remember to subscribe to the Wisdom Podcast for more great conversations on Buddhism, meditation, and mindfulness. And please give us a 5-star rating in Apple Podcasts if you enjoy our show—it’s a great support to us and helps other people find the podcast. Thank you! The post Alejandro Chaoul: Trul Khor (#176) appeared first on The Wisdom Experience.

This episode of the Wisdom Podcast features an interview with Charles Manson. Charles is a master woodcarver and author who spent several years as a Buddhist monk and in meditation retreats. He holds a master’s in theological studies from Harvard University and works as a librarian for the Tibetan Collections at the Bodleian Library at Oxford University and at the British Library in London. In this episode, Charles and host Daniel Aitken discuss: his book The Second Karmapa Karma Pakshi; his eight-year retreat; Karma Pakshi’s impact on Möngke Khan court; Kublai Khan’s capture and exile of Karma Pakshi; lungsem breathing meditation practice; and more! Items mentioned in this podcast:  – Early 14th-Century Portrait of Karma Pakshi – 16th Karmapa in the Karma Pakshi pose at Tsurpu Pre-1959 – Karma Pakshi Travel Map – Om Ma-Ni Pe-Me Hung Sheet music – Om Ma-Ni Pe-Me Hung Recording of Nick Perry playing medieval shawm – Charles during retreat at Karma Pakshi cave   Remember to subscribe to the Wisdom Podcast for more great conversations on Buddhism, meditation, and mindfulness. And please give us a 5-star rating in Apple Podcasts if you enjoy our show—it’s a great support to us and helps other people find the podcast. Thank you! The post Charles Manson: The Second Karmapa (#175) appeared first on The Wisdom Experience.

This episode of the Wisdom Podcast was recorded live as a Wisdom Dharma Chat with special guest, Anne C. Klein. Anne is a professor and former chair of the religion department at Rice University. She is also a lama in the Nyingma tradition and a founding director and resident teacher of Dawn Mountain, a center for contemplative study and practice in Houston. Her publications include Path to the Middle, Unbounded Wholeness (coauthored with Geshe Tenzin Wangyal Rinpoche), Knowledge and Liberation, Strand of Jewels, and Being Human and a Buddha Too (Wisdom, 2023). During this episode, host Daniel Aitken and Anne discuss: her Wisdom Academy course Longchenpa’s Sevenfold Mind Training; her book, Being Human and a Buddha Too, which the course is based on; the relationship between lojong and dzogchen generally, and specifically within this text; Adzom Paylo Rinpoche’s and Jigme Lingpa’s commentaries on this texts; the metaphor of the sunlit sky; and more!   Remember to subscribe to the Wisdom Podcast for more great conversations on Buddhism, meditation, and mindfulness. And please give us a 5-star rating in Apple Podcasts if you enjoy our show—it’s a great support to us and helps other people find the podcast. Thank you! The post Anne C. Klein: Being Human and a Buddha Too (#174) appeared first on The Wisdom Experience.

This episode of the Wisdom Podcast, recorded live as a Wisdom Dharma Chat, features special guest, Sangye Khandro. During this episode host Daniel Aitken and Sangye discuss Venerable Dhomang Gyatrul Rinpoche’s passing into parinirvana earlier this year, her root teacher, Kyabje Dudjom Rinpoche, with whom she studied and practiced for many years, and her work as a translator. Sangye and Daniel also discuss: how Sangye met Venerable Dhomang Gyatrul Rinpoche; Rinpoche’s visions of the Karmapa while he was sick; Rinpoche’s extended tukdam; Rinpoche’s sea burial; and more! Below are a series of links to various videos of Rinpoche’s sea burial. Orgyen Dorje Den, sea burial video Orgyen Dorje Den, drone video Vimala   Remember to subscribe to the Wisdom Podcast for more great conversations on Buddhism, meditation, and mindfulness. And please give us a 5-star rating in Apple Podcasts if you enjoy our show—it’s a great support to us and helps other people find the podcast. Thank you! The post Sangye Khandro: The Parinirvana of Venerable Dhomang Gyatrul Rinpoche (#173) appeared first on The Wisdom Experience.

Jay Garfield discusses Buddhist philosophy, cognitive illusions, and online courses with Wisdom Academy. They explore the concept of self, challenges conventional notions of personhood, and delves into illusions and subjectivity in Buddhist philosophy. The conversation also covers the conventional nature of existence, comparative philosophical traditions in Buddhism, and explores the limits of cognition and subjectivity. Lastly, they reflect on Wilfred Sellers' empiricism and the ethical core of Dharma.

This episode of the Wisdom Podcast, recorded live as a Wisdom Dharma Chat features Geshe Tenzin Namdak. Geshe Namdak first worked as an environmental researcher, having graduated with a bachelor of science degree in hydrology. He took ordination from His Holiness the Dalai Lama before engaging in his formal studies in Buddhist philosophy and psychology at Sera Jey Monastic University. He completed the entire twenty-year geshe program at Sera Jey and the traditional one-year Vajrayāna study program at Gyüme Tantric College. Currently, he is the resident teacher at Jamyang Buddhist Centre, London, and teaches worldwide. In this conversation Geshe la and Daniel discuss:  Lama Zopa Rinpoche and the guidance he provided in Geshe la’s education; how to think clearly; life in Sera Jey and learning through debate; the importance of doubt and contemplation in learning; the three types of dependent arising; and much more! Remember to subscribe to the Wisdom Podcast for more great conversations on Buddhism, meditation, and mindfulness. And please give us a 5-star rating in Apple Podcasts if you enjoy our show—it’s a great support to us and helps other people find the podcast. Thank you! The post Geshe Tenzin Namdak: The Mind and Knowing (#171) appeared first on The Wisdom Experience.

This episode of the Wisdom Podcast features Venerable Bhikkhu Anālayo. Venerable Anālayo is a scholar, meditation teacher, and author. He completed his PhD research on the Satipaṭṭhānasutta at the University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka. His works from Wisdom include Daughters of the Buddha, Early Buddhist Oral Tradition, Superiority Conceit in Buddhist Traditions, and Rebirth in Early Buddhism and Current Research. In this episode Ven. Anālayo and host Daniel Aitken discuss Venerable’s newest release The Signless and the Deathless. They also discuss: the nature of signs; our perception of reality; the practice of bare awareness; and more! Remember to subscribe to the Wisdom Podcast for more great conversations on Buddhism, meditation, and mindfulness. And please give us a 5-star rating in Apple Podcasts if you enjoy our show—it’s a great support to us and it helps other people find the podcast. Thank you! The post Venerable Bhikkhu Anālayo: The Signless and the Deathless (#170) appeared first on The Wisdom Experience.

This episode of the Wisdom Podcast, recorded live as a Wisdom Dharma Chat features H. E. Kalu Rinpoche. Rinpoche is the Lineage Holder of Shangpa Kagyu. He was born in 1990 and recognized by H. H. the Dalai Lama and H. H. the 12th Chamgon Kenting Tai Situpa. Kalu Rinpoche completed the traditional three-year retreat between January 2004 and September 2008. After graduating he traveled, gaining experience in the modern world, before returning to Sonada to give the full Shangpa transmission. Rinpoche continues to connect traditional Shagpa Kagyu teaching to a modern, digital world. His work makes these teachings accessible, ensuring they will remain available for generations to come. During this episode host, Daniel Aitken, and Rinpoche discuss Rinpoche’s perspective on dharma in the modern world, Niguma Yoga, his upcoming Wisdom Academy Course, The Illusory Body and Mind (formerly titled Luminous Mind), and much more. This episode contains a discussion of the live yoga demonstration from Rinpoche. You can view that demonstration from the video recording here from minutes 44:09-1:00:12. Remember to subscribe to the Wisdom Podcast for more great conversations on Buddhism, meditation, and mindfulness. And please give us a 5-star rating in Apple Podcasts if you enjoy our show—it’s a great support to us and it helps other people find the podcast. Thank you! The post H. E. Kalu Rinpoche: The Yoga of Niguma (#169) appeared first on The Wisdom Experience.