The Wisdom Podcast

This episode of the Wisdom Podcast, recorded live as a Wisdom Dharma Chat features special guest, 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 Shangpa Kagyü teaching to a modern, digital world. His work makes these teachings accessible, ensuring they will remain available for generations to come. In this episode host Daniel Aitken and Rinpoche discuss: his current Wisdom Academy course The Illusory Body and Mind; his upcoming Wisdom Academy course Niguma’s Dream Yoga; the subtle body; his books;  and much more! Mentioned in this episode: Rinpoche’s last Wisdom Dharma Chat with a live yoga demonstration Four Tibetan Lineages translated by Sarah Harding Luminous Mind by Kyabje Kalu Rinpoche Shangpa Kagyu: The Tradition of Khyungpo Naljor, Part One by Jamgon Kongtrul Lodro Taye, translated by Sarah Harding Shangpa Kagyu: The Tradition Of Khyungpo Naljor, Part Two by Jamgon Kongtrul Lodro Taye, translated by Sarah Harding   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: ⁠Illusory Body and Mind (#186) appeared first on The Wisdom Experience.

Tim Olmsted, founder of the Pema Chödrön Foundation, shares insights from his extensive Buddhist journey, including 12 years in Nepal studying with renowned teacher Tulku Urgyen Rinpoche. He discusses the balance between perfect devotion and the guru complex, highlighting the significance of genuine community in spiritual growth. Olmsted dives into transformative experiences with meditation and the deep bonds formed in teacher-student relationships. He emphasizes authentic connection, compassion, and the nurturing nature integral to walking the path of Dharma.

Scientist and meditation teacher Cortland Dahl discusses the Healthy Minds App, blending science and spirituality, integrating mindfulness into daily life, and using technology for mindfulness. They explore different forms of meditation, the power of environment in Buddhist practice, and dive into the tradition of Mahamudra with Tilopa and Naropa. The intersection of meditation and science is also explored, touching on unconditioned space, different spiritual paths, and upcoming Buddhist teachings.

Guest Yongey Mingyur Rinpoche talks about Dorje Drolö, a practice for difficult times, the power of imagination in Buddhism, wrathful deities, and upcoming teachings in Nepal during a live Wisdom Dharma Chat.

This episode of the Wisdom Podcast, recorded live as a Wisdom Dharma Chat features special guest, Peter Skilling. Peter is a special lecturer at Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, and an honorary associate, Department of Indian Sub-Continental Studies, University of Sydney, Australia. Until his retirement in 2017, he was a professor of the French School of Asian Studies (EFEO) based in Bangkok. He is an honorary member of the Siam Society, Bangkok, and in 2017 he was elected an honorary fellow of the Asiatic Society of Mumbai. He has published widely on the Buddhist literature, history, and epigraphy of South and Southeast Asia. In this Wisdom Dharma Chat host Daniel Aitken and Peter discuss Peter’s new anthology, Buddha’s Words for Tough Times, and more. During this episode, Daniel and Peter discuss: Peter’s newest release Buddha’s Words for Tough Times; his inspiration for writing the book;  the important roll images play for us as readers; heedfulness (appamāda) and its relation to mindfulness; how the Buddha’s words remain relevant in today’s climate; and  much more! Images discussed in this episode:  Four apramāda seals: Apramāda seal from Lower Burma, Mandeville collection. Apramāda seals from India, Cunningham collection at the British Library. Page 242. Frontispiece: Photo by Birmingham Museums Trust, licensed under CC0. Page ii Frontispiece Buddha after excavation in Sultanganj in 1862 and, on the right, E. B. Harris with some of the Sultanganj images. Source: Harris, Description of Buddhist Remains Discovered at Sooltangunge. See also figures 9 and 11. Page v. Image of the Buddha teaching, with etching of a stūpa in outline on reverse. Seventh century, Bihar. Height, 33 cm. British Museum (acc. no. 1854,0214.1). For the text of the inscription, see appendix 2, figure 54. Pages 25–26. 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 Peter Skilling: Buddha’s Words for Tough Times (#182) appeared first on The Wisdom Experience.

To our valued listeners, an unfortunate outcome of live events is that you only get one take to get things right, technical difficulties can and do happen and as a result, the audio recording in this podcast fails to meet the Wisdom standard. However, we wish for all of our supporters to be able to enjoy the wonderful content included in this conversation. Please be advised some poems have been replaced with an updated recording, to enhance the listening experience. This episode of the Wisdom Podcast, recorded live as a Wisdom Dharma Chat features special guest John Brehm. John is the author of several books of poems, The Poetry of Impermanence, Mindfulness, and Joy and The Dharma of Poetry, Sea of Faith, Help Is On the Way, and No Day at the Beach. He is the associate editor of The Oxford Book of American Poetry and his poems have appeared in Poetry, The Southern Review, New Ohio Review, The Sun, The Gettysburg Review, Gulf Coast, The Writer’s Almanac, The Norton Introduction to Literature, Best American Poetry, and many other journals and anthologies. He lives in Portland, Oregon, and teaches for Literary Arts and Mountain Writers Series in Portland and for the Lighthouse Writers Workshop in Denver, Colorado. In this episode, host Daniel Aitken and John discuss: John’s process for writing poetry; The art of appreciative reading and how to incorporate this in your practice;  John selects poems from his newest collection, Dharma Talk, to read and guides us through reflecting on them; 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 John Brehm: Dharma Talk (#181) appeared first on The Wisdom Experience.

This episode of the Wisdom Podcast, recorded live as a Wisdom Dharma Chat features special guest, Thupten Jinpa. Jinpa-la was educated in the classical Tibetan monastic academia and received the highest academic degree of Geshe Lharam (equivalent to a doctorate in divinity). He also holds a BA in philosophy and a PhD in religious studies, both from the University of Cambridge, England. Since 1985, he has been the principal translator to the Dalai Lama, accompanying him to the United States, Canada, and Europe. Jinpa-la is currently the president and the editor-in-chief of the Institute of Tibetan Classics, a nonprofit educational organization dedicated to translating key Tibetan classics into contemporary languages. He also currently chairs the Mind and Life Institute and the Compassion Institute.   During this episode host, Daniel Aitken, and Jinpa-la discuss:  his latest translation work in the Library of Tibetan Classics series, Stages of the Path and the Oral Transmission; how he chose to structure Stages of the Path and the Oral Transmission; the evolution of modern Western language and its impact on translation; the list of 51 mental factors and the commonly misunderstood factors; his Wisdom Academy course, How the Mind Works;  how to raise joy in your daily life; 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 Thupten Jinpa: Stages of the Path (#180) appeared first on The Wisdom Experience.

In this episode, Venerable Bhikkhu Bodhi discusses his latest anthology from the Pāli canon, the Teachings of the Buddha series, and the logic behind the arrangement of the suttas. They explore misunderstanding dependent origination, the categorization of nibbana, and much more! Delve into the exploration of conditioned phenomena and the realization of nibana, alongside discussions on bliss, meditative experiences, and dependent origination.

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.