The Wisdom Podcast
Wisdom Publications
233 episodes
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https://wisdomexperience.org/wisdom-podcast/podcast/
Episodes
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Wisdom Publications
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In celebration of our fourth Wisdom Academy online course with Thupten Jinpa, launching September 25, we’re re-releasing this special episode. Originally released as episode 109 in April 2021. In Jinpa’s new course, The Nature of Reality in the Four Schools of Buddhist Philosophy, you will discover each school’s core arguments and increasingly refined accounts of reality. In the end, you’ll deepen your understanding of grasping, emptiness, and how view is brought into meditation and action. The course also includes 3 live Q&As with Jinpa. Through August 14, you can save $120 and watch lesson 1
This episode of the Wisdom Podcast, recorded live as a Wisdom Dharma Chat, features special guest Ācārya Malcolm Smith. In this episode, hosted by Daniel Aitken, Malcolm answers questions from his Wisdom Academy course The Nine Yānas. Together, they unpack some key terms of Dzogchen such as dharmatā, dharmadhātu, and dharmakāya. Exploring the concepts of emptiness, pristine consciousness, and direct perception from a Dzogchen perspective. Malcolm and Daniel also discuss: Vajrayana clear light; immaculate prajñā; differences between sutra, tantra, and Dzogchen usage; and much more! Additional c
This episode of the Wisdom Podcast, recorded live as a Wisdom Dharma Chat, features special guest Venerable Robina Courtin. Join Venerable and host Daniel Aitken as they discuss Lama Yeshe’s teachings and discovering your true nature. Dive deep into an understanding of your mind and contrast Mahāmudrā’s experiential approach with theory-first methods. Challenge your understanding of mental consciousness, conceptual construction, and explore the links between contact, feeling, attachment, and karma. They also celebrate the release of the Wisdom Academy Course Mahāmudrā: Lama Yeshe’s Teachings o
This episode of the Wisdom Podcast, recorded as a Wisdom Dharma Chat, features special guests H. E. Serkong Tsenshap Rinpoche, Atisha Mathur, and Fabrizio Pallotti. Together with host Daniel Aitken, they tackle the topic of Buddhist education in the modern world. Discussing the value of rigorous critical thinking in improving Western Dharma study. How students can benefit from collaboration such as the collaboration with Serkong Institute, Association Manjushri Lotsaw, and University of Pisa to bring traditional Buddhist academic structure to Western academia. They also discuss Rinpoche’s cour
This episode of the Wisdom Podcast features special guests Geshe YongDong Losar and Jesse Moussa. Geshela is a Tibetan Bön lama in the Yungdrung Bön lineage, and Jesse has been a Class A Professional with the CPGA since 2007. Together with host Daniel Aitken, they discuss the release of Becoming The Master On The Course And In Life, Wisdom from a Golf Pro and a Meditation Master. Discover how this pair met and join them as they dive into the physical, spiritual, and mental relationship between Buddhism and the sport of golf. They also discuss: how walking the course supports mindfulness and co
This episode of the Wisdom Podcast features special guest Gerrardo Abboud. Born in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Gerardo went on to spend 14 years living in India and Nepal studying the Tibetan language. In 1986, he became president of the Dongyuling Center in Argentina. Since 1992, he has served as an interpreter for many lamas throughout Latin America, including Tsoknyi Rinpoche and His Holiness the Dalai Lama. In this episode, host Daniel Aitken and Gerardo discuss Gerardo’s introduction to Buddhism and Tibetan culture, his experiences with yogic Kagyu models of study and translating key Mahamun
This episode of the Wisdom Podcast features special guest Lama Justin von Bujdoss. Lama Justin is an American Buddhist teacher, author, and the founder and Spiritual Director of Yangti Yoga Retreat Center. In this episode, host Daniel Aitken and Lama Justin explore the Tibetan Buddhist practice of dark retreat. Lama Justin shares his introduction to Buddhism and dark retreat practice from teachers Ani Dechen Zangmo, Kyabje Pathing Rinpoche, His Eminence Gyaltsab Rinpoche, and the Ngakpa doctor, Dr. Nida Chenagtsang. Lama Justin and Daniel also discuss: The various styles of dark retreat; Lama
In this episode of the Wisdom Podcast, host Daniel Aitken is joined by Jet Li. Jet is a renowned martial artist, actor, and thirty-year practitioner of Tibetan Buddhism. Together, they celebrate the release of Jet’s new book, Beyond Life and Death. Jet and Daniel explore prioritizing experience over knowledge, bodhicitta, emptiness, awareness in daily life, and using success to help others. Jet also shares his experiences receiving refuge vows, teachings from Tai Situ Rinpoche, and more! View the video version of this episode here. Also in this episode, Jet and Daniel discuss: Meeting the Karm
This episode of the Wisdom Podcast, recorded live as a Wisdom Dharma Chat, features special guests His Eminence Kalu Rinpoche and Michele Loew. Together with host Daniel Aitken, they celebrate the release of The Yoga of Niguma, available now at wisdom.org. This new publication interweaves Buddhist and yogic practices, making them accessible to both Buddhists and non-Buddhists alike. Rinpoche shares personal stories about learning the practice and now teaching it, while Michele explores how yoga and meditation can serve as complementary paths, helping students integrate body and mind through em
In this episode of the Wisdom Podcast, host Daniel Aitken is joined by John Makransky. John is Associate Professor of Buddhism and Comparative Theology at Boston College, senior advisor for Chokyi Nyima Rinpoche’s Centre of Buddhist Studies in Nepal, and developer of the Sustainable Compassion Training model for accessing innate capacities of compassion and awareness. He earned his Ph.D. from the University of Wisconsin, Madison. As a meditation teacher and a practitioner of Tibetan meditations of compassion and wisdom for four decades, John has pioneered new ways of making these accessible to
This episode of the Wisdom Podcast, recorded live as a Wisdom Dharma Chat, features special guest Eva Natanya. This episode is part of a two-part series discussing the themes in Śamatha and Vipaśyanā. You can listen to Part 1 with Lama Alan Wallace, Lama Alan Wallace: Śamatha and Vipaśyanā: Part 1 (#217). In this episode, join host Daniel Aitken and Eva as they go behind the scenes and discuss the process of bringing Śamatha and Vipaśyanā to publication. Eva shares her deep engagement in solitary meditation retreats and working with Lama Alan Wallace on translating such significant Buddhist te
This episode, previously recorded as a Wisdom Dharma Chat, features Professor John Dunne. John is the distinguished chair in contemplative humanities at the Center for Healthy Minds at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He works with Buddhist philosophy and contemplative practice. He is also an author of the winner of the 2025 Khyentse Foundation Prize for Outstanding Translation, Nāgārjuna’s Precious Garland. Join host Daniel Aitken and John as they discuss Buddhist philosophy and the historical significance of the Nalanda tradition. They transition to conceptual thinking and non-duality, e
In this episode of The Wisdom Podcast, host Daniel Aitken is joined by David M. DiValerio. Join David and Daniel as they discuss David’s newest book, Mountain Dharma: Meditative Retreat and the Tibetan Ascetic Self. David shares his journey into Tibetan Buddhist studies, as well as his experiences and research on Tibetan retreats over the years. They also discuss: the historical context and modern adaptations of retreat practices; the differences between solitary, individual, and community retreat practice; the challenges of translating ancient texts; and much more! Wisdom Podcast listeners ar
In this episode of The Wisdom Podcast, previously recorded as a Wisdom Dharma Chat, host Daniel Aitken is joined by Brendan Barca and Pema Sherpa. Join the trio as they discuss Brendan and Pema’s new book, The Daily Buddhist. The conversation explores their approach of making dharma applicable to everyday life in the modern world and how they manage various challenges, such as balancing technology use and family time. Stressing the importance of persistence, self-compassion, and using mindfulness as a tool for personal growth and lasting happiness. In this episode, Brendan, Pema, and Daniel al
In this episode, host Daniel Aitken is joined by Dasho Karma Ura. Dasho Karma Ura has a Bachelor of Arts from Oxford University, a Master of Philosophy from Edinburgh, and a PhD from Nagoya University. He was awarded the red scarf and the ancient title of distinction, Dasho, by His Majesty the Fourth King in 2006 for his dedicated service to the country of Bhutan. He was a member of the Drafting Committee of Bhutan’s first Constitution in 2008 and became president of the Centre for Bhutan Studies and Gross National Happiness Research. He is a painter and author of many books, including Bhutan:
This episode, recorded live as a Wisdom Dharma Chat, welcomes back His Eminence Khangser Rinpoche. At five years of age, a search party positively identified him as the reincarnation of the seventh Khangser Rinpoche. He is one of three high lamas responsible for recognizing the rebirth of the spiritual leader of Tibet, His Holiness the Dalai Lama. He presently serves as vice abbot of Gyuto Monastery and as the founder and administrative head of Thangkar Dechen Choling Monastic Institute. He is the author of A Monk’s Guide to Finding Joy. Join Rinpoche and host Daniel Aitken as they explore the
In this episode, previously recorded as a Wisdom Dharma Chat, host Daniel Aitken welcomes back Lama Alan Wallace to discuss the newest release, Śamatha and Vipaśyanā: An Anthology of Pith Instructions. Lama Alan trained for many years as a monk in Buddhist monasteries in India and Switzerland. He has taught Buddhist theory and practice in Europe and America since 1976 and has served as interpreter for numerous Tibetan scholars and contemplatives, including H. H. the Dalai Lama. He has edited, translated, authored, and contributed to more than forty books on Tibetan Buddhism, medicine, language
In this episode, host Daniel Aitken is joined by special guest Anu Gupta. Anu is an award-winning author, educator, lawyer, scientist, and meditation teacher. He holds a JD from NYU Law, an MPhil in Development Studies from Cambridge, and a BA in International Relations and Islamic Studies from NYU. He is the founder and CEO of BE MORE with Anu, a learning and development organization that supports individuals and organizations foster trust, safety, and belonging. He is a proud polyspiritual Hindu-Buddhist-Christian and a dedicated yoga and meditation practitioner. His bestselling book, Breaki
In this episode of The Wisdom Podcast, join special guest Venerable Matthieu Ricard and host Daniel Aitken as they tackle the intersection of science and Buddhism. Venerable Ricard is a Buddhist monk, author, translator, and photographer. After completing his Ph.D. in cell genetics in 1972, he moved to the Himalayas, where he spent many years in the presence of Kangyur Rinpoche and Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche. He has published numerous books, including The Monk and the Philosopher, Happiness, Altruism, and Notebooks of a Wandering Monk. He donates all proceeds from his books and activities to supp
This episode of the Wisdom Podcast, recorded live as a Wisdom Dharma Chat, features the return of special guest Rangjung Neljorma Khandro Tseringma Rinpoche. Experience this heartfelt discussion aiming to alleviate fears, delve into the nature of interdependence, the power of connecting with a teacher, and so much more. Join Khandro Rinpoche and host Daniel Aitken and reflect on how all experiences—joyful and painful alike—arise through the web of dependent origination. Learn how compassion, when grounded in reality, can open a path to happiness and escape suffering through wisdom. In this epi
In this episode, join James B. Apple and host Daniel Aitken as they celebrate James’s newest release, Atiśa’s Stages Of The Path To Awakening. James is Professor of Buddhist Studies at the University of Calgary. His current research focuses on the critical analysis of Mahāyāna sūtras and topics within Indian and Tibetan Buddhist scholasticism. He has published over fifty peer-reviewed articles in international academic journals as well as numerous books, including Jewels Of The Middle Way, also by Wisdom Publications. In this episode, James and Daniel explore: the concept of clear light and th
This episode, recorded live as a Wisdom Dharma Chat features special guest, Mark Siderits. In this episode hosted by Daniel Aiken, Mark embarks on an illuminating conversation surrounding Buddhist philosophy. They discuss the structure and content of his two online courses—Buddhism as Philosophy: Non-self and Reality and Buddhism as Philosophy: Yogācāra and Madhyamaka. From there, they dive into the concept of emptiness and how the Abhidharma, Madhyamaka, and Yogācāra traditions each approach it. Mark studied at the University of Hawaii and Yale, has taught extensively, and authored several bo
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 j
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 conclu
In this episode, Cortland Dahl and Daniel Aitken discuss Cortland’s book A Meditator’s Guide to Buddhism. As an author and translator, Cortland has published numerous scientific articles and works on Buddhist philosophy and meditation. He is actively involved in scientific research and has published articles on the impact of meditation practices on the body, mind, and brain. They explore crucial themes such as the integration of meditation, view, and application in daily life, and explores concepts like naturalness, spontaneity, and the innate qualities of awareness, compassion, and wisdom. Yo
