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Daniel Goleman: The Mind and Meditation Mar 27, 2020

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For this episode of the Wisdom Podcast, host Daniel Aitken speaks with Daniel Goleman, acclaimed psychologist and author of several books, including the international bestseller, Emotional Intelligence: Why It Can Matter More Than IQ. Daniel Goleman has written extensively on the connections between human psychology, science, and contemplative practice, as well as their practical applications in both leadership and in everyday life. In this conversation, Goleman talks about his early years at Harvard, where he earned his PhD in psychology, and how encounters with great teachers such as Ram Dass, Tulku Urgyen, Khunu Rinpoche, and many others, would pave the way for his research on meditation and non-Western theories of mind. He also describes how several key figures influenced his engagement with different varieties of Buddhist practices.

Unlike his studies in psychology that largely focused on the content of the mind, vipassana focused on the process, which Goleman found to be tremendously exciting. He then discusses how mindfulness and meditation—topics not well-received by his graduate advisors—have evolved within the United States and within American culture since the early 1970s. Most profoundly, Goleman discusses his recent work on climate change and proposes potential approaches to engaging with such a complex set of issues. Using his background in psychology, he offers extraordinarily astute insights on how the human mind grapples with the difference between imminent versus symbolic threats, and how this translates into the world of capital, consumerism, and personal responsibility. He also shares his thoughts on how Dharma practitioners might contribute to the environmental cause especially, by creating a model of ethical consumerism for those that surround them.

To stay apprised of Daniel Goleman’s ongoing work, be sure to check out his website. There you can learn more about Goleman and access a variety of resources, including his Emotional Intelligence Coaching Certification Program.

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Tara Brach: Radical Compassion Feb 21, 2020

Show notes

On this episode of the Wisdom Podcast, host Daniel Aitken speaks with Tara Brach, renowned meditation teacher, psychologist, and author of several bestselling books, including Radical Compassion: Learning to Love Yourself and Your World with the Practice of R.A.I.N; True Refuge: Finding Peace and Freedom in Your Own Awakened Heart; and Radical Acceptance: Embracing Your Life With the Heart of a Buddha. These books and others can be purchased through Tara’s website and on Amazon. Tara is known for her pioneering work integrating Western psychology with Eastern spiritual traditions. She is also the founder of the Insight Meditation Community of Washington.

In this moving discussion, Tara talks about her dedication to social activism and how it fueled her interest in meditation from a young age. She explains the tension she experienced after attending social activism rallies, which were often characterized by aggression and an “us/them” mentality, versus the peaceful, unified mind/body feeling she experienced while practicing yoga. Following a yoga class one evening, she realized, “this [peaceful feeling] was what I really cherished and needed… and also what the world really needed.” This pivotal moment catalyzed her shift from radical politics to radical inquiry into the nature of awareness and compassion, with a focus on the capacity of certain practices, like yoga and meditation, to be used as tools to solve the very issues social activists confront.

Tara also recounts the experience of living in an ashram for twelve years, which laid the groundwork for several Buddhist meditation practices she would later discover, such as jhana practice, vipassana, and Dzogchen. Tara compares the benefits of each of these, and discusses how each has deeply informed the development of her own unique practices, especially those focused on self-compassion. She goes on to explain in detail the RAIN method of meditation, which she teaches and follows regularly.

Finally, Daniel and Tara discuss radical compassion and what it means for compassion to be an all-inclusive, active, and embodied expression in the world. Tara considers how we can shine a light of awareness on both our personal and political biases, and furthermore, how we might cultivate this aspiration despite millennia of conditioning.

Listeners can find additional resources and information related to the topics Tara covers, including Buddhist social activism and vipassana meditation, on Wisdom’s website.

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**Shechen Rabjam Rinpoche: Spiritual Heir to a Tibetan Master** Feb 03, 2020
Show notes

For this episode of the Wisdom Podcast, host Daniel Aitken travels to New York to speak with Shechen Rabjam Rinpoche. Shechen Rabjam Rinpoche is the author of *The Great Medicine,* and grandson and spiritual heir of the great Tibetan master Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche. Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche was one of the foremost Tibetan Buddhist masters of the 20th century. In this truly inspiring conversation, Rinpoche shares stories about his close relationship with his grandfather, teacher, and mentor for twenty years. This relationship began when Shechen Rabjam was only 5 years old, and continued for 20 years until Dilgo Khyentse’s passing.

In this discussion, Rinpoche speaks of Dilgo Khyentse’s remarkable qualities. In particular, he illustrates his uncanny insight and intuition, his radical generosity, and his nonsectarian approach to teaching across multiple traditions. He shares his own goals as both Dharma heir and teacher. Additionally, he discusses the history of the Sechen lineage, and explains how he seeks to transmit the lineage in Tibet. Moreover, Rinpoche and Daniel discuss the topic of devotion, including what “devotion” means and what inspires it. Finally, they discuss the topic of mindfulness and the popularity of mindfulness practice in mainstream culture. Rinpoche offers insight into how mindfulness can “become a door to the dharma” by getting people interested in going into deeper practice. This, he says, can ultimately lead to finding a teacher and taking refuge.

Rabjam Rinpoche embodies the authentic Tibetan Buddhist tradition in combination with a modern view. He is the author of *The Great Medicine*. His book are available for purchase on Amazon or directly from Shambhala Publications .

Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche with young Shechen Rabjam Rinpoche

Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche, Darjeeling, 1975
Photo Matthieu Ricard

The post Shechen Rabjam Rinpoche: Spiritual Heir to a Tibetan Master appeared first on The Wisdom Experience.

Larry Rosenberg: Early Pioneer of Buddhism in the West Dec 13, 2019

Show notes

In this episode of the Wisdom Podcast, host Daniel Aitken speaks with Larry Rosenberg, meditation teacher and founder of the Cambridge Insight Meditation Center, established in 1985. Larry is among the earliest pioneers of Buddhism in America. At 87, he has observed a great deal of American Buddhism’s growth and transformation in his forty years of teaching. In this rich conversation, Larry talks about leaving academia after being a professor of social psychology at both Harvard and Brandeis University, and how his craving for more experiential knowledge of the mind led him to meditation. Larry also shares his early encounters with J. Krishnamurti, who was a major influence on his spiritual path, and how many years in the Korean Zen tradition led to his interest in Vipassana. Later, the profound advice of His Holiness the Dalai Lama would help Larry develop his teaching philosophy at the Cambridge Insight Meditation Center. Larry shares how the Dalai Lama’s instruction to narrow his focus on the Four Noble Truths has proven successful after many decades of teaching. Larry and Daniel also discuss the topic of engaged Buddhism in the West, monastic versus lay life, and how Larry has developed as both a practitioner and teacher over the course of his lifetime.

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Koshin Paley Ellison: How to Forgive Nov 22, 2019

Show notes

In this episode of the Wisdom Podcast, host Daniel Aitken speaks with Koshin Paley Ellison, author of the wildly popular book, Whole-Hearted: Slow Down, Help Out, Wake Up, published by Wisdom. Koshin is co-founder of the New York Zen Center for Contemplative Care and a teacher in the Sōtō Zen Buddhist tradition. In this fascinating conversation, Koshin tackles the subject of forgiveness, asking what it means to hold ourselves and our loved ones accountable within a broader framework of compassion. He asks: how do we come to see that every individual has some level of innate goodness, some innate capacity to wake up, even while also being capable of doing bad things? Koshin also addresses helpful ways of framing difficult conversations, and how an honest exchange, even when challenging, can yield even deeper connections with the people in our lives.

The post Koshin Paley Ellison: How to Forgive appeared first on The Wisdom Experience.

Ajahn Brahm and Shaila Catherine: Dialogue on the Deep States of Samadhi Nov 01, 2019

Show notes

For this episode of the Wisdom Podcast, host Daniel Aitken travels to Berkeley, California, to attend After Mindfulness, a two-day conference and retreat bringing together Buddhist practitioners from around the globe to ask the question what is mindfulness? At the conference, Daniel joins revered meditation teachers Ajahn Brahm and Shaila Catherine for a live panel discussion on the topic of deep states of samadhi. Both Shaila and Ajahn Brahm are widely revered for their knowledge on jhāna practices in the Theravada tradition. In this conversation, they discuss their shared and contrasting points of view on theory and practice. Both speak to the necessity of “letting go” as a primary orientation, and how deep states of absorption allow one to return to the world of the senses with unprecedented insight. Ajahn Brahm teaches the practice of letting go as a non-effort—that you can’t “do” letting go and how one must completely disengage from the “doer” frame of mind. Shaila shares a more systematic approach to this notion of letting go, and stresses the importance of developing a clear understanding of how one both enters and exits jhāna states.

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Robert Thurman: The Practice of Deity Yoga Oct 11, 2019

Show notes

On this episode of the Wisdom Podcast, host Daniel Aitken travels to upstate New York to speak with Robert Thurman, pioneering scholar and translator in the Tibetan Buddhist world, and professor of Indo-Tibetan Buddhist Studies at Columbia University. Professor Thurman has long been recognized as a leading authority on Buddhist religion, culture, and philosophy. Since this is Wisdom’s second podcast with Professor Thurman, we decided to focus on a topic that is of great interest to our listeners. In this conversation, Professor Thurman shares his expertise on the practice of deity yoga. Specifically, he explains the unique function of creation stage practice, describing it as a high-tech form of genetic engineering in which one is transformed into the embodiment of a buddha. Professor Thurman fleshes out the broader context of this practice, and also sheds light on the potential benefit of engaging in such an elaborate visualization of the mind. Furthermore, he addresses the relevance of creation stage practice in the context of everyday life.

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Ajahn Brahm: Letting Go, Stillness, and Vanishing Sep 06, 2019

Show notes

In this episode of the Wisdom podcast, host Daniel Aitken travels to Berkeley, California, to speak with Venerable Ajahn Brahm, a meditation teacher in the Thai Forest tradition and author of many popular books including Falling Is Flying; The Art of Disappearing; and Mindfulness, Bliss, and Beyond. In this conversation, you’ll hear Ajahn Brahm talk about his early interests in theoretical physics at Cambridge University and how this intersected with his interest in Buddhist thought. He talks about the constructed nature of perception and how what we perceive is largely contained within the limits of our own imagination. Ajahn Brahm also discusses what he calls the art of disappearing—namely the relationship between letting go, stillness, and vanishing. You’ll hear him explain how true mindfulness emerges from this place of disappearance as well as its connection to the necessity of higher states of meditation.

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Cyrus Stearns: Translating for the Great Sakya Masters Aug 16, 2019

Show notes

For this episode of the Wisdom Podcast, host Daniel Aitken travels to Whidbey Island off the coast of Washington State to speak with Cyrus Stearns, independent scholar and translator in the Tibetan Buddhist tradition. Cyrus is the author of several books, including Taking the Result As the Path: Core Teachings of the Sakya Lamdré Tradition.

Cyrus has had the rare opportunity of working in an intimate context with some of the greatest masters in the Sakya tradition. In this rich conversation, he shares stories about his experiences working with both Dezhung Rinpoche and Chogye Trichen Rinpoche in India and Nepal. He compares their individual teaching styles, and explains how most of what he learned about his own practice was the result of simply observing their wisdom and compassion behind the scenes. Additionally, Cyrus reviews the basic structure of the Lamdré, which is the fundamental system of teaching and practice in the Sakya tradition, and includes a touching story about how he received these teachings that have guided his career for decades.

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H. H. the Sakya Trizin: Preservation of the Dharma and the Sakya Tradition Jul 26, 2019

Show notes

For this very special episode of the Wisdom Podcast, host Daniel Aitken speaks with His Holiness the Sakya Trizin, the 42nd throne holder of the Sakya school of Tibetan Buddhism. In this fascinating conversation, you’ll hear His Holiness talk about his childhood growing up in the prestigious Khön family of Tibet. It was the Khön family who originally founded the Sakya order in the 11th and 12th centuries. His Holiness talks about what it was like growing up as the eventual successor to his father as throne holder and how this impacted his years of study in the monastery. His Holiness also talks about his responsibility in the preservation of the Dharma and ways this is connected to the preservation of the Sakya teaching lineage itself.

The post H. H. the Sakya Trizin: Preservation of the Dharma and the Sakya Tradition appeared first on The Wisdom Experience.

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